This page will eventually contain all the different relationships present in David Copperfield, listed in order of appearance. I've included a few of my comments because I do so love to comment, but I tried to be mainly objective in my observations, just going by what Dickens most likely intended to parallel. ;) Proceed.

Family Relationships

David Copperfield, Clara Peggotty, and Clara Copperfield
As a child, David is entranced by his mother's pretty ways and beautiful looks. She loves her boy and would do anything, but is too weak to actually accomplish much. Peggotty is the true backbone of the family and the better mother to Davy, especially when Clara falls in love with Murdstone. Clara all but abandons David because of her fragility, but Peggotty carries on with determination and protects David from his stepfather. Though Clara is virtually murdered by her husband, Peggotty sticks with David and even enters a marriage of convenience to be close to him. The fact that Peggotty and David's mother share a first name immediately links them. These two women share different parts of the motherhood role to David, and his reactions to each are later reflected in his love life.

Romances

David Copperfield and Agnes Wickfield
David and Agnes meet around the age of 12, when he boards with them during school. They grow up together and develop a brother/sister bond - at least David thinks so. Agnes secretly likes him, and makes efforts to hide this attachment for his own happiness, even trying to befriend Dora in order to be closer to him. David takes advantage of this and makes Agnes his confidante; he doesn't even begin to realize his own feelings until his rivalry with Uriah begins. As always, David picks the *fun* relationship of Dora over Agnes' sensible support - this tendency is mirrored in his preference of Steerforth over Traddles and his mother over Peggotty. After Dora's death, David's eyes are finally opened, and both he and the reader are allowed to see Agnes' true emotions as she bursts into tears and admits she has loved him all her life. A happy marriage life follows. Yay!
Like most of his "good" women, Dickens likely based Agnes and her relation with David off his "sister"-in-law Mary Hogarth, for whom he had feelings even during his marriage.

Uriah Heep and Agnes Wickfield
Growing up in the Wickfield house since he was 11, Uriah has developed an attachment for Agnes, but it appears thwarted by David. Uriah has a very jealous disposition and is determined to get rid of anyone who will interfere with his plans to marry Agnes,including Annie Strong and even her own father. He even uses his mother to keep watch over Agnes 24/7. But Mr. Wickfield loathes the idea of marriage, and Agnes has no plans on entering a union with Uriah, either.
There are two ways to view this relationship - either snakelike and quite a physical attraction on Uriah's part, but Agnes is not exactly a femme-fatale so I'm not sure this works. It could also be sincere - and twisted - and Uriah has to "kick everyone out of the cart" because his own repulsiveness stands in his way. This relationship of "marrying the boss' daughter" is also a mirror to David's relation with Dora. Whatever idea is the true intention of Dickens, Uriah certainly doesn't mind hurting David with his pursuit of Agnes, and Agnes is also a representation of success, which would be quite a triumph for the mishapen lawyer.

Edward Murdstone and Clara Copperfield
Mr. Murdstone preys on Clara because of her easy disposition, as well as her tidy inheritance sum. Clara is entranced by Murdstone's manliness and never sees his faults, eventually marrying him. This causes a horrible relationship as Murdstone crushes her spirit while forming her character. The romance may be slightly distorted for us as we view it from only David's perspective, but on all accounts it is still quite abusive. Though they have a child together, eventually, Murdstone worries and commands Clara so much that he essentially kills her. Murdstone soon moves on and enters a similar relation with another young woman. This relationship shows the dangers of "untrained" love, and is an early example of the bad outcomes that result from physical attraction, foreshadowing later events in the book.

Thomas Traddles and Sophy Crewler
Traddles falls in love with Sophy and proposes to her, but their marriage is a long way coming. She is devoted to an ailing family with several sisters, and he has a tough time rising in his law career. They plan and eagerly await their marriage, even buying furniture for the house they hope they'll one day have. Eventually they finally unite, but Sophy's sisters move in, too. Patient Traddles doesn't mind and actually find is pleasant as they all dote on him. His marriage with Sophy is very happy and Dickens says it is long-lasting, too. Traddles' relationship serves as foil to Uriah, a dishonest lawyer intent on taking shortcuts in business and love. It also contrasts with David's hasty marriage to Dora.

Friendships and Platonic Relations

David Copperfield and James Steerforth
David meets Steerforth at Salem House when Steerforth is 14. Steerforth is adventurous and exciting, and takes an interest in David, who reads him stories and follows him constantly. Being young and trusting, he doesn't realize Steerforth takes advantage of everyone around him. When they meet up as adults, Steerforth continues to be a bad influence, getting David drunk and gossiping about loose women. David still doesn't realize Steerforth's faults until his friend destroys the Peggotty family. Even then, and until Steerforth's death, David still hangs on to the image of what Steerforth once was. Steerforth's friendship with David mirrors the relationship with Uriah. David doesn't mind Steerforth's attachment to his mother, or his bad intentions toward women, although he thinks Uriah is repulsive. I think much of Steerforth's charm lies in his similarities to David. David prefers Steerforth because he represents the glamorous success and carelessness David would like to have.

David Copperfield and Thomas Traddles
David first meets Traddles around the age of 8, when they both attend Salem House school. Traddles is rather dull and frequently beaten, but he is an upright little boy and stands up for Mr. Mell despite peer pressure. Still, David takes little notice of him, he is so enamored of Steerforth. Eventually the friends meet up again in London, when they are both studying for law. Traddles proves to be a consistent, loyal friend, and a great help to David and others, while David grows to respect the shock-haired lawyer. This friendship contrasts sharply with David and Steerforth.

Aunt Betsey Trotwood and Mr. Dick
Betsey takes in simple Richard Babley, a.k.a. Mr. Dick, after he has been kicked out by his family. Mr. Dick places implicit trust in Aunt Betsey, and she relies on him to make decisions she'd rather not deal with. This relationship shows us the soft side of Betsey, and it's easy to see that she feels safe with Mr. Dick. He can't harm her the way her husband did; Betsey's bad romance makes her crave the command in all situations, and this is easy with Mr. Dick as a companion.

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