Mr. Peggotty Character Analysis

Daniel Peggotty is Peggotty’s brother and little Em'ly and Ham Peggotty’s uncle. He works as a fisherman in Yarmouth, where he lives in a beached boat that he has converted into a house. Mr. Peggotty's defining trait is his generosity; he provides a home not only for his orphaned niece and nephew, but also for Mrs. Gummidge—his former business partner’s grumpy widow. Mr. Peggotty's patient and forgiving nature become important in the aftermath of little Em’ly's elopement with James Steerforth. In the Victorian era, women who engaged in premarital sex were subject to extreme social censure, but Mr. Peggotty's sole concern when he learns of Emily's "sin" is to find her and bring her home. He is ultimately successful, and then moves to Australia for the sake of his niece, who will be able to start a new life there.