David Copperfield Mr. Wickfield Quotes

Mr. Wickfield

Quote 1

My love for my dear child was a diseased love, but my mind was all unhealthy then. I say no more of that. (60.77)

After clearing away Uriah Heep, Mr. Wickfield's mind improves. He can recognize that the cause of all of his weakness has been his obsessive love for his daughter. And this love, in turn, arises from his grief over the death of her mother. Mr. Wickfield clearly feels a strong sense of guilt that his behavior has caused those he loves so much pain. Do we see any signs that Mr. Wickfield is trying to make amends? What do we make of this "diseased love" of Mr. Wickfield's? Is there any way we can connect his "all unhealthy" mind to his intense suspicion of other people's motives at the beginning of the novel?