The British rock band Uriah Heep is named after the character.Dickens began writing an autobiography in the late 1840s which he shared with his friend and future biographer, John Forster. In film and television adaptations, the character has been played by Peter Paget (1934), Roland Young (1935), Maxwell Shaw (1956), Colin Jeavons (1966), Ron Moody (1969), Martin Jarvis (1974), Paul Brightwell (1986), Nicholas Lyndhurst (1999), Frank MacCusker (2000) and Ben Whishaw (2018). He later attacked Dickens in pamphlets, calling particular attention to Dickens' social class and background. Powell 'ingratiated himself into the Dickens household' and was discovered to be a forger and a thief, having embezzled £10,000 from his employer.

Uriah Heep's schemes and behaviour could also be based on Thomas Powell, employee of Thomas Chapman, a friend of Dickens. Much of David Copperfield is autobiographical, and some scholars believe Heep's mannerisms and physical attributes to be based on Hans Christian Andersen, whom Dickens met shortly before writing the novel.

However, in conversation with David he reveals himself to remain full of malice.Īrtwork of Uriah Heep by Frank Reynolds (1910) Now in prison for bank fraud, and awaiting transportation, Uriah acts like a repentant model prisoner. Later in the novel, David encounters Uriah for the last time. They let Uriah go free only after he has (reluctantly) agreed to resign his position and return the money that he has stolen. Yet Micawber is honest, and he, David, and Tommy Traddles confront Uriah with proof of his frauds. Uriah miscalculates when he hires Mr Micawber as a clerk, assuming Micawber will never risk his own financial security by exposing Uriah's transgressions. He admits to David (whom he hates) that he intends to manipulate Agnes into marrying him. He encourages Wickfield's drinking, tricks him into thinking he has committed financial wrongdoing while drunk, and blackmails him into making Uriah a partner in his law office. He realises that his widowed employer has developed a severe drinking problem, and turns it to his advantage. Uriah is a law clerk working for Mr Wickfield. In the novel ĭavid first meets the 15-year-old Heep when he comes to live with Mr Wickfield and his daughter Agnes. His character is notable for his sycophancy. Heep is the primary antagonist during the second part of the novel. Uriah Heep is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his 1850 novel David Copperfield.

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