Editing Wilkins Micawber (section)

==His role in the story==
Micawber was incarcerated in [[debtors' prison]] (the [[King's Bench Prison]]) after failing to meet his creditors' demands. His long-suffering wife, Emma, stands by him despite his financial exigencies that force her to [[pawnbroker|pawn]] all of her family's [[heirloom]]s.  She lives by the maxims, "I will never desert Mr. Micawber!" and "Experientia does it!" (from ''Experientia docet'', "One learns by experience.")

Micawber is responsible for a major financial setback to another character. The hardworking, reliable Tommy Traddles, who is saving to furnish a home for the young woman he hopes to marry, allows his optimism to overcome his common sense. He "lends his name" to Micawber by co-signing for his rent, and when Micawber fails to pay, Micawber's creditors seize all of the Micawber family's furniture and personal effects, along with those of Traddles. Although Traddles eventually recovers the little round table and flower pot that symbolize his hopes for future happiness, he hampers himself financially by paying off Micawber's debt.

Micawber is hired as a clerk by the scheming [[Uriah Heep (character)|Uriah Heep]], who assumes wrongly that Micawber's debts arise from dishonesty.  But working for Heep allows Micawber to expose his boss as a forger and a cheat. To start anew, Micawber and his family emigrate to Australia with Daniel Peggotty and Little Em'ly, where Micawber becomes manager of the Port Middlebay Bank and a successful government [[magistrate]]. Prior to leaving, Micawber repays the money Traddles spent settling his loan.

In [[Hablot Knight Browne]]'s illustrations for the first edition, Micawber is shown wearing [[knee-breeches]], a [[top hat]], and a [[monocle]]. Micawber was modelled on Dickens' father, [[John Dickens]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Charles Dickens {{!}} Biography, Books, Characters, Facts, & Analysis|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Dickens-British-novelist|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>