| Agnes Wickfield | |
|---|---|
| David Copperfield character | |
 Agnes Wickfield, David's second wife Art byFrank Reynolds (1910) | |
| Created by | Charles Dickens |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Family | Mr. Wickfield (father) David Copperfield (husband) At least five children, including two sons and three daughters |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | British |
Agnes Wickfield is a character ofDavid Copperfield, the 1850 novel byCharles Dickens. She is a friend and confidante ofDavid (the narrator and protagonist of this semi-autobiography) since his childhood and at the end of the novel, his second wife. In Dickens' language, she is the "real heroine" of the novel.
Agnes is introduced in chapter 15 of the novel; when David, with his great-auntBetsey Trotwood, goes to her father Mr. Wickfield's house inCanterbury, in search of a good school. Agnes, whose mother is dead, takes care of her alcoholic yet affectionate father and of the house, as the "little housekeeper". David takes residence in the house for his school-years. David and Agnes, being of same age; become best friends very quickly. Throughout his boyhood, David, in many ways, becomes dependent on Agnes. Agnes becomes his friend and confidante, and David regards her as a sister. Though Agnes loves him, she never tells him, knowing he doesn't have the same feelings for her.
After leaving the house when he passes school, David maintains close relations with Agnes. She warns him against his friendJames Steerforth, as his "bad angel", which later proves true. Her father's villainous clerk,Uriah Heep, taking advantage of Mr. Wickfield's alcoholism and his affection for his daughter, becomes powerful. He becomes a partner in the law firm by devious means and wants Agnes' hand in marriage. Agnes, refusing, resists Heep throughout the years. Hiding her true feelings for David, she helps and advises him in his infatuation with and marriage toDora Spenlow. Later, whenWilkins Micawber is recruited as a clerk by Heep, she urges him to gather evidence against Heep; this ultimately leads to Heep's downfall.
After Dora's death, Agnes consoles and encourages David to return to his normal life, and the profession of writing. While living inSwitzerland, David realizes that he loves Agnes. After returning toEngland he tries hard to conceal his feelings, but realizing Agnes loves him as well, he proposes to her; she accepts. They marry quickly and take residence inLondon. Agnes bears David at least five children.
Like typicalDickensian heroines, Agnes is mainly a passive character, an idealVictorian lady. Her characterization is often criticized as "too perfect". David often describes her as anangel.[1]
Recent researches have been more favorable to her. Cultural historianPeter Gay in an article titled"The Legless Angel of 'David Copperfield': There's More to Her Than Victorian Piety" stated that, she shows the effects ofparentification. The death of her mother and alcoholism and weak-mindedness of her father makes her more matured for her age, along with gifts of intelligence and presence of mind.[2]
One significant feature of Agnes' character is her calm, quiet and tranquil nature. David's first impression about her is comparing her to a "stained glass window" of a church. David often compares Agnes with the tranquil brightness of the church-window.
Agnes' character was based on Dickens' sisters-in-lawMary andGeorgina Hogarth, both of whom were very close to Dickens. Mary died in 1837 at the age of 17, and Georgina, from 1842, lived with the Dickens family. Dickens referred to her affectionately as his "little housekeeper". After Dickens' separation from his wifeCatherine, Georgina stayed with him for the rest of his life and took complete responsibility for managing his household.
Lettice Cooper has suggested thatAngela Georgina Burdett-Coutts may also have influenced Dickens in the creation of Agnes.[3]