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Murdstone and his sister appear a few times later in the novel, associated in business with David's employer Mr. Spenlow. Near the end of the novel, the adult David learns from an old acquaintance that
Murdstone, despite Aunt Betsey's scolding, reverted to his old ways, married a rich young woman and
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Murdstone later receives a letter from Miss
Trotwood, informing him of David's arrival. He travels down to Dover to discuss David's future with Miss Trotwood, who eventually agrees to take over as David's legal guardian, but then blasts Murdstone for his appalling treatment of Clara and David, even
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disapproval), while David is away at the
Yarmouth seashore. Soon after the marriage and David's return home, Murdstone's sister Jane moves into the house at Blunderstone with them. However, the Murdstones begin to show a much darker and more sadistic side to their personalities, and with Clara's
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Murdstone thrashes David merely for falling behind in his studies, and David retaliates by biting
Murdstone's fingers severely. As a result of what Murdstone views as "sullen behaviour" (even though Murdstone himself deliberately started it), he sends David away to Salem House, a boarding school
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insinuating that
Murdstone only invited his sister to live with them to serve as his enforcer, referring to her as Murdstone's "instrument". Murdstone, apparently feeling remorse for the first time for his actions, merely leaves without a word.
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While David is at Salem House, Clara gives birth to her and
Murdstone's son, but three months later, Clara and the baby both suddenly die. David is summoned home from Salem House and sent to work at Murdstone's wine bottling factory,
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generally passive and forgiving demeanour, they manipulate her with psychological mind games until she comes to accept that the
Copperfield household is no longer hers, but now belongs to the Murdstones.
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Near the beginning of the novel, Murdstone marries Clara
Copperfield when David is about eight years old (David's father died six months before David was born). This arrangement is done secretly (much to
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In the 1974 BBC TV series he is played by Gareth Thomas. This depiction is fairly faithful to the book, although he does not appear again after his scolding by Betsey
Trotwood (
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Being one of the central antagonists of the novel, Murdstone has appeared in every adaptation of
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