# Wilkins Micawber — David Copperfield character guide > Wilkins Micawber in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Micawber, Master Micawber, Micawber, Consequently Mr. Micawber, I. Mr. Micawber, the immovable Mr. Micawber, LIV Mr. Micawber, Both Mr. Micawber, Wilkins, Wilkins Micawber , Esquire **First appearance:** 0014-xi-i-begin-life-on-my-own-account-and-don-t-like-it ## Snapshot A grandiloquent, perpetually insolvent gentleman who befriends young David and lives on the conviction that something will turn up. ## Who they are Micawber lodges David during his bleak warehouse years, lecturing on income and expenditure while dodging creditors and landing in the King's Bench prison. His buoyant optimism and theatrical diction mask real financial chaos, and his wife's vow never to desert him only deepens the comedy. He matters because he teaches David resilience and, later, becomes an unlikely instrument of justice. ## Relationships ### [David Copperfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/david_copperfield) _friendship_ David befriends the perpetually indebted but good-hearted Micawber, who later helps him defeat Uriah Heep. ### [Tommy Traddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/tommy_traddles) _friendship_ Traddles and Micawber are loyal friends and allies, with Traddles often helping Micawber out of financial scrapes. ### [Uriah Heep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/uriah_heep) _professional_ Uriah employs Micawber as a clerk, exploiting his financial desperation before Micawber turns against him. ### [David Copperfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/david_copperfield) _friendship_ David befriends the perpetually indebted but good-hearted Micawber, who later helps him defeat Uriah Heep. ### [Tommy Traddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/tommy_traddles) _friendship_ Traddles and Micawber are loyal friends and allies, with Traddles often helping Micawber out of financial scrapes. ### [Tommy Traddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/tommy_traddles) _friendship_ Traddles and Micawber are loyal friends and allies, with Traddles often helping Micawber out of financial scrapes. ### [Uriah Heep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/uriah_heep) _professional_ Uriah employs Micawber as a clerk, exploiting his financial desperation before Micawber turns against him. ### [Uriah Heep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/uriah_heep) _professional_ Uriah employs Micawber as a clerk, exploiting his financial desperation before Micawber turns against him. ### [David Copperfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/david_copperfield) _friendship_ David befriends the perpetually indebted but good-hearted Micawber, who later helps him defeat Uriah Heep. ## In the story ### [XI: I Begin Life on My Own Account, and Don’t Like It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xi-i-begin-life-on-my-own-account-and-don-t-like-it) Imprisoned for debt in the King's Bench Prison; composes a petition to Parliament and borrows a shilling from David. ### [Liking Life on My Own Account No Better, I Form a Great Resolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xii-liking-life-on-my-own-account-no-better-i-form-a-great-resolution) Mr. Micawber is released from debtors' prison and prepares to move his family to Plymouth, offering David advice on financial prudence. ### [Somebody Turns Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xvii-somebody-turns-up) Mr. Micawber is in Canterbury with his family, awaiting a remittance and hoping for something to turn up. He dines with David and has befriended Uriah Heep. ### [Tommy Traddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxvii-tommy-traddles) Mr. Micawber is revealed as Traddles's landlord; he greets David with characteristic flourish and references their time in Canterbury. ### [Mr. Micawber's Gauntlet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxviii-mr-micawber-s-gauntlet) Enthusiastically makes punch and deviled mutton; discusses his financial schemes and future plans with David and Traddles. ### [Enthusiasm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxxvi-enthusiasm) Announces his new position as confidential clerk to Uriah Heep in Canterbury. ### [Wickfield and Heep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xxxix-wickfield-and-heep) Employed by Uriah Heep; appears constrained and hints at financial pressures. ### [I Am Involved in Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/xlix-i-am-involved-in-mystery) Sends a mysterious letter and meets David and Traddles at the King's Bench Prison, hinting at troubles with Uriah Heep. ### [I Assist at an Explosion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/lii-i-assist-at-an-explosion) Dramatically reads his letter exposing Uriah Heep's frauds against Mr. Wickfield, reveling in his epistolary style. ### [Mr. Micawber's Transactions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/liv-mr-micawber-s-transactions) Joyfully prepares emigration stamps but is arrested on a new writ from Heep; later freed by Traddles and expresses bliss. ### [LVII: The Emigrants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/chapters/lvii-the-emigrants) Mr. Micawber adopts a buccaneering air, equips himself with oilskins and a knife, and is briefly arrested again before being freed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters/wilkins_micawber - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/david_copperfield_se/characters