# James Steerforth — David Copperfield character guide > James Steerforth in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Steerforth, Mr. Steerforth, Here Steerforth, J. Steerforth, James, Of Steerforth, O Steerforth **First appearance:** 0010-vii-my-first-half-at-salem-house ## Snapshot David's magnetic schoolboy idol, whose charm and careless sense of superiority make him both irresistible company and a quiet danger to everyone beneath him. ## Who they are Steerforth is the brilliant, self-possessed gentleman-scholar whom young David worships at Salem House and later introduces to the Peggotty household at Yarmouth. His easy contempt for 'that sort of people' — spoken as wit, meant as truth — reveals the flaw beneath the polish, while the scar he once threw into Rosa Dartle's lip hints at a cruelty he never bothers to deny. His pull on David's loyalty and his casual reach into the lives of humbler characters set the moral weather for the novel's middle stretch. ## Relationships ### [Agnes Wickfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/agnes_wickfield) _social_ Agnes is wary of Steerforth's charm and disapproves of his influence on David, maintaining a polite distance. ### [Agnes Wickfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/agnes_wickfield) _social_ Agnes is wary of Steerforth's charm and disapproves of his influence on David, maintaining a polite distance. ### [Agnes Wickfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/agnes_wickfield) _social_ Agnes is wary of Steerforth's charm and disapproves of his influence on David, maintaining a polite distance. ## In the story ### [I Am Sent Away from Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/v-i-am-sent-away-from-home) Steerforth is mentioned as a boy who carved his name deeply on the door; David fears he will read the placard in a strong voice and pull his hair. ### [VI: I Enlarge My Circle of Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/vi-i-enlarge-my-circle-of-acquaintance) An older, charismatic student who befriends David, calls his punishment 'a jolly shame,' and promises to protect him. ### [My "First Half" at Salem House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/vii-my-first-half-at-salem-house) An older, charismatic boy who befriends David and charms Mr. Peggotty and Ham. ### [XIII: The Sequel of My Resolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xiii-the-sequel-of-my-resolution) David dreams of Steerforth and calls out his name while sleeping near Salem House. ### [Steerforth's Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xx-steerforth-s-home) Steerforth is charming and self-possessed, dismissive of fame and academic ambition. ### [Little Em'ly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxi-little-em-ly) Charms the Peggotty household with his easy manner and storytelling, but later reveals a cold, dismissive attitude toward Ham. ### [Some Old Scenes, and Some New People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxii-some-old-scenes-and-some-new-people) Shows restless and adventurous nature; experiences a dark, introspective moment, lamenting his lack of guidance; reveals he bought a boat. ### [XXIII: I Corroborate Mr. Dick, and Choose a Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxiii-i-corroborate-mr-dick-and-choose-a-profession) Travels with David from Yarmouth; advises David on his aunt's letter; dismissively suggests proctoring is as good as any profession. ### [My First Dissipation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxiv-my-first-dissipation) Steerforth visits David, brings friends to dinner, and leads the revelry; he remains composed while David becomes intoxicated. ### [I Fall Into Captivity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxvi-i-fall-into-captivity) Mentioned as being at Oxford; David admits to a lurking distrust of him. ### [XXIX: I Visit Steerforth at His Home, Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxix-i-visit-steerforth-at-his-home-again) Host; exerts his charm on Rosa Dartle and is seen sleeping peacefully, foreshadowing later tragedy. ### [A Greater Loss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxxi-a-greater-loss) Steerforth is the man with whom Em'ly has fled, though he does not appear directly in the chapter. ### [XLVI: Intelligence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xlvi-intelligence) Mentioned as the man Em'ly fled from; Littimer describes his insulting behavior and the rift between them. ### [LVI: The New Wound, and the Old](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/lvi-the-new-wound-and-the-old) Steerforth has died in a shipwreck; his body is brought back and laid in his mother's room. ### [LVIII: Absence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/lviii-absence) David mourns Steerforth, who might have won admiration but died in a shipwreck. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/james_steerforth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters