The Houseboat Symbol in David Copperfield

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THE HOUSE BOAT SYMBOL * The boat comes to represent many aspects of his personality as well as foreshadow his life ahead. It comments on many in the Peggotty family as well. * It is partially in the sea, but still tied to land. It is stationary, but can still be rocked by the waves, and if someone were to cut it loose, it could sail away. The boat is somewhat orphaned in itself, separated from its natural environment. Moreover, it comes to represent the hopes and dreams of Little Em’ly to move up in social circles, effectively cutting the rope of her current life. Even in this journey there will be waves, though. When David reflects in manhood on her walking out on a timber hanging over the waters, he wonders if “it would have been better for little Em’ly to have had the waters close above her head that morning in my sight (Dickens 46). * In a small way, this houseboat setting reflects the sweeping fascination and young love David feels for Em’ly. He writes: “As to any sense of inequality, or youthfulness, or other difficulty in our way, little Em’ly and I had no such trouble…We had made no more provision for growing older than we did for growing younger” (Dickens 48). Though they had aspirations to move beyond their current states, while they were tied there together they had no concept of future. Lastly, the Peggotty trade of lobsters and crabs in a small way signifies all the people who will try to latch on to someone who is moving up the social scales. * Yarmouth and the houseboat are returned to in chapter 51. Mr. Peggotty is considering immigrating to Australia and taking Em’ly with him. The earlier images of her being tossed about in her journeys upheld itself. She suffered many illnesses and was sent various places around France and England before finally moving to London and nearly falling into prostitution before finding her footing. * When

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