Mr. Micawber and His Family
Sol Eytinge
Wood engraving
10 high x 7.6 cm wide
Fifth full-page illustration for Dickens's David Copperfield in the Ticknor and Fields (Boston), 1867, Diamond Edition.
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
The subject of this fifth illustration is the lower middle-class family that reflects Dickens's own, the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Micawber being based on his own parents, who were constantly hoping — in the midst of perpetual financial difficulties — that something would turn up. In all likelihood, the passage realized from the facing page is this:
"Emma, my angel!" cried Mr. Micawber, running into the room, "what is the matter?"
"I will never desert you, Micawber!" she exclaimed.
"My life!" said Mr. Micawber, taking her in his arms, "I am perfectly aware of it."
"He is the parent of my children! He is the father of my twins! He is the husband of my affections!" cried Mrs. Micawber, struggling; "and I ne-ver — will desert Mr. Micawber!"
Mr. Micawber was so deeply affected by this proof of her devotion (as to me, I was dissolved in tears), that he hung over her in a passionate manner, imploring her to look up, and to be calm. [Ch. 12, "Liking Life on My Own Account No Better, I Form a Great Resolution," p. 97]
Whereas Phiz's domestic scenes are packed with telling detail, Eytinge's focus on the characters and merely sketch in elements of background. Here, however, he includes those markers of Micawber's pretension to middle-class respectability, his top hat and cane (bottom) and his pince nez (so very fashionable in the London of the 1840s) hanging from his neck.
Reference
Dickens, Charles. The Personal History of David Copperfield. Il. Sol Eytinge, Jr. The Diamond Edition. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1867.
Last modified 15 January 2011