David Copperfield

David Copperfield

by

Charles Dickens

Mrs. Gummidge Character Analysis

Mrs. Gummidge is an elderly woman who lives with Mr. Peggotty; she is the widow of his former business partner, and he therefore feels responsible for her. For much of the novel, Mrs. Gummidge repays Mr. Peggotty's kindness with nothing but complaints (although Mr. Peggotty generously attributes her constant state of self-pity to grief). After little Em'ly runs away with James Steerforth, however, Mrs. Gummidge's manner changes entirely, and she selflessly supports Mr. Peggotty in his attempts to find his niece. After Emily and Mr. Peggotty are reunited, Mrs. Gummidge goes with them to Australia.

Mrs. Gummidge Quotes in David Copperfield

The David Copperfield quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Gummidge or refer to Mrs. Gummidge. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age and Personal Development Theme Icon
).
Chapter 22 Quotes

"I have been sitting here," said Steerforth, glancing round the room, "thinking that all the people we found so glad on the night of our coming down, might—to judge from the present wasted air of the place—to be dispersed, or dead, or come to I don't know what harm. David, I wish to God I had had a judicious father these last twenty years."

"My dear Steerforth, what is the matter?"

"I wish with all my soul I had been better guided!" he exclaimed. "I wish with all my soul I could guide myself better!"

Related Characters: David Copperfield (speaker), James Steerforth (speaker), Little Em'ly (Emily), Peggotty, Ham Peggotty, Mrs. Gummidge
Related Symbols: The Sea
Page Number: 275
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mrs. Gummidge Quotes in David Copperfield

The David Copperfield quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Gummidge or refer to Mrs. Gummidge. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age and Personal Development Theme Icon
).
Chapter 22 Quotes

"I have been sitting here," said Steerforth, glancing round the room, "thinking that all the people we found so glad on the night of our coming down, might—to judge from the present wasted air of the place—to be dispersed, or dead, or come to I don't know what harm. David, I wish to God I had had a judicious father these last twenty years."

"My dear Steerforth, what is the matter?"

"I wish with all my soul I had been better guided!" he exclaimed. "I wish with all my soul I could guide myself better!"

Related Characters: David Copperfield (speaker), James Steerforth (speaker), Little Em'ly (Emily), Peggotty, Ham Peggotty, Mrs. Gummidge
Related Symbols: The Sea
Page Number: 275
Explanation and Analysis: