David Copperfield

The Dickens' novel makes a continued metaphorical comparison between character and food. Hillis Miller illustrated how David tends to associate people with food, as shown in his description of Peggotty's arms being so "hard and red" that he "wondered why birds didn't peck her in preference to apples". Dickens integrates the notion that food embodies character from the start, alongside enforcing ideas of class stereotypes. Peggotty, the house servant and cook is instantly paralleled with the image of apples which later tie into the apple pastries we (the reader) learns she bakes. It is interesting to note how David describes Peggotty through the lens of food, however, fails to do so when thinking of his mother who is described in very human terms: "pretty hair and youthful shape". It could be inferred that it is implied that David views Peggotty as a mothering figure in that she nurtures him and provides him with sustenance. Dickens goes further to tie Peggotty's character to the image of food after David offers food from her to the driver of the mail cart, who becomes her love interest. 'I offered him a cake as a mark of attention which he ate in one gulp. "Did she make em now?" Said Mr Barkis.' After learning how good a cook Peggotty is, Mr Barkis begins to show a romantic interest in her. Her worth as a wife is directly linked to her ability to cook and provide food.