Emma Micawber is Mr. Micawber’s wife. She is perpetually stressed and overworked, both because of her husband's financial difficulties and because the couple has a large (and growing) number of children. Nevertheless, she is a devoted wife who goes out of her way to make her husband's life easier—for instance, by pawning various possessions in an effort to pay off his debts. She also insists repeatedly that she will "never desert Mr. Micawber," although in this case, there is probably an element of self-reassurance at work: she often brings up the possibility of leaving when no one else has done so. Generally, however, the Micawbers seem to be well-matched, with Mrs. Micawber sharing her husband's tendency for dramatic, exaggerated words and gestures.
Mrs. Micawber Quotes in David Copperfield
The David Copperfield quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Micawber or refer to Mrs. Micawber. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 57
Quotes
"I wish Mr. Micawber, if I make myself understood," said Mrs. Micawber, in her argumentative tone, "to be the Caesar of his own fortunes. That, my dear Mr. Copperfield, appears to me to be his true position. From the first moment of this voyage, I wish Mr. Micawber to stand upon that vessel's prow and say, 'Enough of delay: enough of disappointment: enough of limited means. That was in the old country. This is the new. Produce you reparation. Bring it forward!'"
Related Characters:
Mrs. Micawber (speaker), David Copperfield, Mr. Micawber
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mrs. Micawber Character Timeline in David Copperfield
The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Micawber appears in David Copperfield. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 11: I Begin Life on My Own Account, and Don't Like It
...the show it could." He then introduces David to his family—four children and his wife, Mrs. Micawber , who looks tired and overwhelmed.
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Mrs. Micawber shows David his room and laments the necessity of taking in lodgers, implying that she...
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One day, Mrs. Micawber approaches David and confesses that the family has run out of food, and David offers...
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...rest of their furniture, but this is still not enough to secure Mr. Micawber's release. Mrs. Micawber therefore moves into prison with him, and David moves to a room nearby to keep...
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Chapter 12: Liking Life on My Own Account No Better, I Form a Great Resolution
...secures his release from prison, and while he celebrates with his fellow inmates, David visits Mrs. Micawber . Mrs. Micawber proposes a toast to her parents, and explains that both are now...
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On the Sunday before they leave, Mr. Micawber and Mrs. Micawber have David over for dinner, and both thank him for being a friend to them...
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Chapter 17: Somebody Turns Up
...that he is now a student at Doctor Strong's and asks whether he could visit Mrs. Micawber . Micawber agrees that this is a wonderful idea, and extols David's faithful friendship throughout...
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...to the inn where he and his family are staying, and then leaves him with Mrs. Micawber while he himself goes to look over advertisements for jobs. Mrs. Micawber explains that her...
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...Micawber returns, apparently so despairing that he alludes to the possibility of suicide. This throws Mrs. Micawber into a state as well, but both recover quickly and place an order for a...
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Chapter 27: Tommy Traddles
...are well) before recognizing him, at which point he greets him delightedly and calls for Mrs. Micawber to join them.
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While they wait for Mrs. Micawber , Mr. Micawber asks David about Doctor Strong and reminisces about their last meeting in...
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Throughout Mr. Micawber's speech, David can hear Mrs. Micawber hastily washing up next door. When she finally comes to Traddles's room and sees David,...
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Chapter 28: Mr. Micawber's Gauntlet
Mr. Micawber, Mrs. Micawber , and Traddles all arrive together and praise David's rooms. Mrs. Micawber is especially delighted...
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Mr. Micawber announces that the punch is ready and gives a speech. As everyone drinks, Mrs. Micawber asks for David's and Traddles's opinions on her husband's prospects, explaining that his hopes for...
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David reminds the Micawbers that advertising is expensive, and Mrs. Micawber replies that she has considered this and thinks that Mr. Micawber should first borrow some...
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Mr. Micawber praises Mrs. Micawber 's virtues before speaking at length about the joys of having children, despite the financial...
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Chapter 36: Enthusiasm
...apartment. They are already packed to leave and have very little luggage. Nevertheless, David congratulates Mrs. Micawber , who says that while her family considers Mr. Micawber's new position "banishment," she will...
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...is then briefly distracted by his children's rowdy behavior, but the conversations soon resumes with Mrs. Micawber saying she hopes that this position will eventually lead to her husband becoming a judge....
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As the evening goes on, David explains his and Miss Betsey's problems to Mr. and Mrs. Micawber , who seem happy about the news. When they are close to finishing the punch,...
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Chapter 42: Mischief
David describes a letter he received from Mrs. Micawber while the Wickfields were still visiting. In it, Mrs. Micawber reports that Mr. Micawber has...
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Chapter 49: I Am Involved in Mystery
...that are conspiring to ruin his life, and that have caused him distress that even Mrs. Micawber cannot alleviate. For that reason, he says, he intends to "fly from [him]self" for a...
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...and surprised when Traddles reveals that he has also received a letter—in his case, from Mrs. Micawber . They exchange letters, and David finds that Mrs. Micawber's involves Mr. Micawber's strange behavior:...
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...figure out what is going on. They agree, however, that they ought to write to Mrs. Micawber and assure her that they will meet with Mr. Micawber; David, in particular, feels guilty...
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...David notices that he looks less "genteel" than he used to. When David asks how Mrs. Micawber is, Micawber says she is only "so-so," and then begins to describe how much he...
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Chapter 52: I Assist at an Explosion
Mr. Micawber announces that he can now reconcile with Mrs. Micawber and the rest of his family, and invites everyone to follow him to his house....
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...become part of a church choir, but admits that he is currently singing in public-houses. Mrs. Micawber insists that her son "means well," and Micawber agrees, but says that he has not...
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...and urges him to consider going with Mr. Peggotty and little Em'ly to Australia. Meanwhile, Mrs. Micawber wonders aloud whether Australia is the kind of place where her husband "would have a...
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Chapter 54: Mr. Micawber's Transactions
Mrs. Micawber explains that she has been busy communicating with her family: she suspects that their coldness...
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Mr. Micawber and Mrs. Micawber leave David, Agnes, and Miss Betsey alone with Traddles, who is sitting at a table...
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...his threats. Miss Betsey uncomfortably thanks Traddles but dismisses the topic, instead inviting Mr. and Mrs. Micawber back in.
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Chapter 57: The Emigrants
A boy arrives saying that someone wishes to see Mr. Micawber, and Mrs. Micawber says she expects it is a member of her family. Mr. Micawber threatens to leave...
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Mrs. Micawber promises Miss Betsey and David she will write from aboard ship, if she is able...
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Mrs. Micawber says she hopes that her descendants might one day return to England, but Mr. Micawber...
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...will do well in Australia. Agnes and Miss Betsey then say their goodbyes, causing both Mrs. Micawber and her children to burst into tears.
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...leads Peggotty, who is crying, back up to the deck. There, they say goodbye to Mrs. Micawber , who insists one final time that she will never leave Mr. Micawber. Peggotty and...
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