How Barbara Kingsolver’s ‘Demon Copperhead’ Transforms Victorian Social Critique into a Modern Appalachian Tragedy
Concentrated Focus on Demon Copperhead
Refresher on Dicken’s version:
Previous teaching “What Dicken’s Can Teach You”: HERE
Characters
- David Copperfield: The protagonist, who narrates his life story from childhood to adulthood.
- Clara Copperfield (David’s mother): A kind but weak-willed woman who remarries unwisely.
- Murdstone: David’s cruel stepfather who sends him away to work.
- Peggotty: The loyal housekeeper who cares for David.
- Micawber: A kindhearted but financially irresponsible friend to David.
- Uriah Heep: The main antagonist, a devious clerk who threatens David and his friends.
- Agnes Wickfield: David’s childhood friend who becomes his true love and eventual wife.
- Dora Spenlow: David’s first wife, beautiful but impractical.
- Steerforth: David’s charismatic school friend who later betrays his trust.
Plot Structure:
- Begins with the protagonist’s birth and early childhood.
- The death of a parent (David’s father) early in the story.
- A period of hardship and mistreatment (David sent to work in a factory).
- Education and coming of age (David’s time at Salem House and Dr. Strong’s school).
- Finding a mentor or guardian (Mr. Micawber, Betsey Trotwood).
- First love and marriage (David’s relationship with Dora).
- Confronting villains and overcoming obstacles (Uriah Heep’s schemes).
- Professional development and finding one’s place in society (David becoming a writer).
- Loss and grief (death of Dora and other characters).
- Final resolution and happiness (David’s marriage to Agnes).
Thematic Echoes:
- The struggle between innocence and experience as the protagonist grows up.
- The impact of social class and economic status on one’s opportunities and relationships.
- The importance of education and self-improvement.
- The nature of true friendship versus false or manipulative relationships.
- The consequences of impulsive decisions versus thoughtful choices.
- The role of women in society and marriage.
- The power of perseverance and hard work in overcoming adversity.
- The contrast between appearances and reality in people’s characters.
- The effects of industrialization and changing social structures on individuals.
- The search for identity and one’s place in the world
- The role that faith/religion plays in that time…
Character parallels:
- Protagonists: Both novels feature a central character whose life we follow from childhood to adulthood. Both resilient characters who face numerous hardships.
- Parental figures: Both protagonists lose their fathers early and have complicated relationships with their mothers. David’s mother remarries the abusive Mr. Murdstone, Demon’s mother marries abusive Stoner
- The guy they look up to who takes a bad turn: Steerforth in Copperfield, Swapout in Copperhead
- Mentors/Guardians: Betsey Trotwood plays a crucial role in David’s life, Demon has Ms. Betsy
- Villains: Characters like Uriah Heep in David Copperfield U-Haul in Copperhead
Plot structure similarities:
- Bildungsroman: Both novels are coming-of-age stories that follow the protagonist’s journey from childhood to adulthood.
- Episodic nature: The stories unfold through a series of events and encounters that shape the main character’s life.
- Adversity and triumph: Both narratives involve the protagonist overcoming various obstacles and hardships.
- First-person narration: Both stories are told from the perspective of the main character, offering intimate insights into their thoughts and feelings.
Thematic echoes:
- Social inequality: Both novels critique the social systems of their respective time periods, highlighting issues of poverty and class disparity.
- Resilience and perseverance: The protagonists in both stories demonstrate remarkable strength in the face of adversity.
- The impact of childhood experiences: Both novels explore how early life events shape a person’s character and future.
- The power of education and self-improvement: In both stories, learning and personal growth play significant roles in the protagonists’ development.
- The opioid crisis in Demon Copperhead echoes themes of addiction present in David Copperfield, though with a modern context.
Kingsolver’s Unique Contributions
- Setting: Appalachian Mountains
- Contemporary Issues:
- Opioid crisis**
- Rural poverty
- Foster care system
- Environmental concerns
Exploring Themes and Social Commentary
- The Opioid Crisis
- Impact on individuals, families, and communities
- Systemic factors contributing to the crisis
- Parallels with Dickens’ critique of social issues
- Appalachian Culture and Challenges
- Stereotypes and realities of rural Appalachia
- Economic struggles and lack of opportunities
- Environmental exploitation
- Social Services and Support Systems
- Critique of the foster care system
- Access to healthcare and addiction treatment
- Education and social mobility
How does Kingsolver use the familiar structure of “David Copperfield” to highlight contemporary issues? Kingsolver maintains the bildungsroman structure of “David Copperfield,” following the protagonist from birth to adulthood. This familiar framework allows her to draw parallels between the social issues of Victorian England and contemporary Appalachia. For example, where Dickens critiqued child labor and debtors’ prisons, Kingsolver examines foster care systems and the opioid epidemic. The use of a known narrative structure helps readers connect with the story while engaging with difficult modern topics.
In what ways does the Appalachian setting contribute to the story’s themes? The Appalachian setting is crucial to the themes of “Demon Copperhead.” It allows Kingsolver to explore:
- Rural poverty and lack of economic opportunities
- The impact of the opioid crisis on tight-knit communities
- Environmental issues related to coal mining and land use
Cultural stereotypes and the complexity of Appalachian identity This setting provides a rich backdrop for examining systemic issues in contemporary America, much as London did for Dickens in his critique of Victorian society.
How does “Demon Copperhead” comment on systemic issues in American society? “Demon Copperhead” offers a powerful commentary on several systemic issues:
- The opioid crisis and its disproportionate impact on rural communities
- Shortcomings in the foster care system and child protective services
- The cycle of poverty and lack of social mobility in rural areas
- The exploitation of natural resources and its effect on local communities
- The inadequacy of healthcare and addiction treatment in underserved areas
Independent perspectives and critical analyses of “Demon Copperhead,” (focusing on independent readers and critics without obvious vested interests):
Reader Perspectives (On platforms like Goodreads, where readers provide unfiltered opinions, the book has a mix of 5-star and 1-star reviews. Some common criticisms include):
-
-
- The book’s length and slow pacing
- A feeling of emotional detachment from the protagonist
- Disappointment with the lack of a more transformative ending
-
Academic and Independent Critics:
- Some scholars have noted that while the book brings attention to important issues, it might perpetuate certain stereotypes about Appalachia.
- There’s been discussion about whether the novel truly captures the complexity of the region or if it presents a somewhat flattened view of Appalachian life.
Community Responses:
- Some readers from Appalachia have expressed mixed feelings. While appreciating the attention to their region’s issues, they’ve also noted that the relentless hardship depicted doesn’t fully represent their experiences.
Comparative Literature Perspectives:
- In comparing it to “David Copperfield,” some critics have noted that “Demon Copperhead” lacks the sense of personal triumph and growth that characterized Dickens’ work, questioning whether this makes it a less effective bildungsroman [billp-dons-roman].
—DEFINED: A bildungsroman is a type of novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood. The term is derived from German, where “bildung” means “education” or “formation,” and “roman” means “novel.”
Key characteristics of a bildungsroman typically include:
- A young protagonist, usually male in classical examples, but this has broadened in modern literature.
- A journey or series of experiences that lead to emotional and intellectual growth.
- Challenges and obstacles that the protagonist must overcome, often including conflict with societal norms or expectations.
- A process of self-discovery and maturation.
- Usually ends with the protagonist finding their place in society.
Famous examples of bildungsroman include:
- “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
- “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
In the context of “Demon Copperhead,” Barbara Kingsolver uses this literary form to track the growth and development of her protagonist through the challenges of contemporary rural America, much as Dickens did with David Copperfield in Victorian England—–
Social Commentary: While many praise the book’s spotlight on the opioid crisis, some critics argue that it doesn’t offer new insights or solutions, potentially reinforcing a sense of hopelessness
Narrative Technique: Some literary analysts have criticized the novel’s heavy reliance on telling rather than showing, particularly in its social commentary aspects.
Character Development: A recurring critique is that secondary characters often feel underdeveloped or serve mainly as vehicles for illustrating social issues rather than fully realized individuals.
It’s worth noting that filtering out all potentially biased sources is challenging, as many critics and reviewers may have indirect connections to the publishing industry.
Reversal of heroic value, from heroic, rags to riches to tragic:
David Copperfield:
- Achieves a “high spiritual union” through marriage with Agnes, who represents the divine feminine. (See Saint Agnes).
- Integrates his immature flaws into wisdom and maturity.
- Finds professional success as a writer.
- Ends up in a stable, loving family situation.
- The ending represents a clear triumph over his earlier hardships and a full realization of his potential.
Demon Copperhead:
- “Hangs out” with his version of the divine feminine (Angus–cattle) but doesn’t achieve the same level of spiritual or emotional union.
- Overcomes his drug addiction but doesn’t seem to transform much beyond that.
- Doesn’t achieve the same level of professional or personal success as David.
- The ending is more ambiguous and less triumphant.
“Demon Copperhead” in sum:
- Lack of heroism: This novel doesn’t present a traditional heroic narrative. Kingsolver prioritizes realism which can indeed feel bleak and unsatisfying.
- Bleak representation: The novel paints a grim picture of society, especially in rural Appalachia and seems intentional to highlight systemic issues, but it can be overwhelming and disheartening for readers.
- Absence of higher purpose or possibility: Unlike “David Copperfield,” which shows a path to personal growth and success, “Demon Copperhead” seems to offer limited hope for transcendence or meaningful change.
- Blame on social institutions: The novel places blame primarily on social institutions rather than individuals making it a critique of systemic issues vs. an examination character and personal responsibility.
This difference in outcomes reflects several key points:
Contemporary Realism: Kingsolver’s ending is perhaps more reflective of the realities faced by many in rural, economically challenged areas. Full transformations and “happily ever after” endings are less common in real life, especially in communities struggling with systemic issues.
Critique of Social Systems: While Dickens ultimately shows his protagonist overcoming societal obstacles, Kingsolver’s ending might be seen as a critique of the limited opportunities and ongoing challenges faced by people in Demon’s situation.
Different Literary Eras: Dickens wrote in the Victorian era, which often favored more morally clear-cut, optimistic endings. Kingsolver, writing in the 21st century, reflects a more complex, sometimes bleaker view of social mobility and personal transformation.
Ongoing Struggle: Demon’s less dramatic transformation might suggest that the process of overcoming systemic challenges is ongoing and doesn’t have a clear “endpoint” in the way that David’s story does.
Open-endedness: Kingsolver’s ending leaves room for readers to imagine Demon’s future, perhaps suggesting that his story, like the struggles of the community he represents, is not yet finished.
Addl learning/thinking: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Harvard Address in English
Questions to ponder:
- Should novels primarily inspire and offer hope, or should they strive to represent harsh realities?
- How can authors balance social critique with character growth and redemption?
