Dickens's "Barkis Drives David to Yarmouth" by Harold Copping (1893) (original) (raw)

Passage Illustrated: Barkis wonders why Peggotty has not responded to his proposal

The carrier looked thoughtful, and then asked David if he would send a message to Peggotty from him. David agreed, and the message was "Barkis is willing." While David was waiting for the coach at Yarmouth, he wrote to Peggotty.

"My Dear Peggotty, — I have come here safe. Barkis is willing, My love to mamma. — Yours affectionately.

"P. S. — He says he particularly wanted you to know Barkis is willing." [Character Sketches from Dickens, 59]

At last the holidays came, and David went home. The carrier, Barkis, met him at Yarmouth, and rather gruff, which David soon found out was because he had not had any answer to his message. David promised to ask Peggotty for one. [Character Sketches from Dickens, 62]

Commentary: Barkis shares confidences with David

Harold Copping's realistic style is perhaps a little unsuitable for depicting the enigmatic carrier, Mr. Barkis, as he drives David away from Blunderstone on the first leg of the boy's journey to London. The moment depicted occurs in instalment two (Chapter 5, "I Am Sent Away from Home"), June 1849. The middle-aged carrier may simply be too bashful to propose for himself, but in the boy's eyes he is a quirky character, a thorough "Dickens Original."

Other Illustrators' Depictions of The Willing Barkis (1849 to 1910)

Left: W. H. C. Groome's version of Barkis's proposal to David: "Basrkis is willin'," says you. (1900). Centre: Dickens's original illustrator, Phiz, introduces the saturnine carrier in Mrs. Gummidge casts a Damp on our Departure (August 1849). Right: Harry Furniss's humorous presentation of Peggotty's wedding day in the Charles Dickens Library Edition: Barkis is Willin'(1910). Right:

Left: The sheepish carrier and Peggotty on the seat of the van in Sol Eytinge Junior's Diamond Edition sequence: Peggotty and Barkis (1867). Right: Fred Barnard's Household Edition depiction of David and the Carrier in the van as Peggotty elopes with him: "I saw to my amazement, Peggotty burst from a hedge and climb into the cart (1872).

Relevant Illustrated Editions of this Novel (1849 through 1910)

Bibliography

Dickens, Charles. David Copperfield. Illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"). London: Chapman & Hall, May 1849 to April 1850.

Dickens, Mary Angela et al. Children's Stories from Dickens. Introduction by Percy Fitzgerald. Illustrated by Harold Copping. London, Paris New, York: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., 1893.

Matz, B. W., and Kate Perugini; illustrated by Harold Copping. Character Sketches from Dickens. London: Raphael Tuck, 1924. Copy in the Paterson Library, Lakehead University.

Created 16 February 2009

Last modified 28 September 2023