Childhood Influences

David's narrative shows the many influences that shaped his childhood and made him into the man he eventually became. Much attention is paid to the way children are treated in England, particularly in regard to class status.

David's life has a series of ups and downs. At first he is a treasured son. Then he becomes a hated stepson. He has various experiences as a student, including a violent and tedious time at Salem House. David must also take on adult responsibilities as a child. At one point he is a ten-year-old child laborer trying desperately to make ends meet. He spends a period of time being homeless, trekking through the English countryside. Finally, his great aunt, Miss Betsey, helps him reestablish a carefree childhood, by taking him in to her home.

David's descriptions of the loneliness and poverty that he suffered as a child give strong...