Chapter 4 Summary

David's return home is not a happy one. His mother is offended by his negative feelings towards Mr. Murdstone. Mr. Murdstone presents himself as a strict stepfather and makes it clear that David must obey him or risk physical punishment.

Mr. Murdstone's sister comes to stay with them and to run the house according to her own paranoid delusions. The two Murdstones set rule with an iron fist and break the spirits of the others in the house, particularly David and his mother. One instance of this is David's schooling at home. The two Murdstones watch David and his mother during his lessons in order to catch the slightest sign of affection toward one another. These lessons usually end in violence against David for some perceived transgression. David takes comfort by escaping into stories that he secretly reads.

Tensions come to a head...