Born to a weak but loving mother soon after his father dies, David Copperfield is nine years old when his mother Clara marries a man named Murdstone. A cruel man who believes in extreme disciple, he has no hesitation in sending David away to school. Shortly after he is sent away, David's mother dies and Murdstone seizes the opportunity to send him away for good, this time for menial labour at a London wine merchants. Miserable with his new life, David finds comfort whilst staying with the Micawber family and when he is eventually able to leave London to stay with his Aunt Betsy in Dover, his life turns for the better when she arranges for him to be taken into her care. For David Copperfield this is just the very beginning.