# Mr. Barkis — David Copperfield character guide

> Mr. Barkis in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Barkis, poor Barkis, the late Mr. Barkis

**First appearance:** 0008-v-i-am-sent-away-from-home

## Snapshot

A taciturn Yarmouth carrier who courts Peggotty by proxy, communicates in shrugs, and is famously 'willin'.

## Who they are

Mr. Barkis drives the coach between Yarmouth and London, a slow, weather-beaten man who says almost nothing and means a great deal. He enlists young David as his messenger to Peggotty — 'Barkis is willin'' — and eventually marries her, revealing a hoarding, suspicious tenderness beneath the grunts. He matters as one of the novel's early lessons in misread surfaces: the gruff carrier turns out to be generous, and his death leaves Peggotty both provided for and bereaved.

## Relationships

### [Clara Peggotty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/clara_peggotty)

_romantic_

Clara Peggotty marries the honest but taciturn Mr. Barkis, who famously declares 'Barkis is willin'.'

### [Clara Peggotty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/clara_peggotty)

_romantic_

Clara Peggotty marries the honest but taciturn Mr. Barkis, who famously declares 'Barkis is willin'.'

### [Clara Peggotty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/clara_peggotty)

_romantic_

Clara Peggotty marries the honest but taciturn Mr. Barkis, who famously declares 'Barkis is willin'.'

## In the story

### [My Holidays. Especially One Happy Afternoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/viii-my-holidays-especially-one-happy-afternoon)

The carrier who proposes marriage to Peggotty, as revealed during the family dinner.

### [I Become Neglected, and Am Provided For](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/x-i-become-neglected-and-am-provided-for)

Mr. Barkis, now married to Peggotty, shows a miserly side and a peculiar, laconic manner, but also a subtle interest in Peggotty's well-being.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/mr_barkis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters