David Copperfield is the eponymous first-person narrator and protagonist of the novel, which is ostensibly a memoir David Copperfield has written about his own life. In this memoir, David looks back on his youthful experiences from the perspective of an adult man and established author. Because the story of David Copperfield contains numerous similarities to the life of Charles Dickens himself, many literary theorists consider the novel to be a work of autobiographical fiction (or autofiction).

Born six months after the death of his biological father, David spends much of the novel searching for mentorship, guidance, and a sense of home. The novel follows David’s personal evolution as he attends numerous boarding schools, pursues various career paths, struggles through his first marriage, and ultimately finds love and satisfaction in his second marriage.

Throughout the novel, David also learns from the struggles of his friends and family: his mother’s abusive second marriage, which contribute to her eventual death; the financial difficulties of his friend Mr. Micawber, who is thrown into debtor’s prison; and the emotional challenges of his Aunt Betsey, who is exploited by her vagabond ex-husband.