--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a captive and a slave. I loved Dora…" description: "\"I was a captive and a slave. I loved Dora Spenlow to distraction! She was more than human to me. She was a Fairy, a Sylph, I dont know what she was--an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/david-copperfield-2966_captive_i-was-a-captive-and-a-slave-i-loved-dora_2782154.png" --- # I was a captive and a slave. I loved Dora Spenlow to… ![“I was a captive and a slave. I loved Dora Spenlow to distraction! She was more than human to me. She was a Fairy, a Sylph, I dont know what she was--anything that no one ever saw, and everything that everybody ever wanted.” quote by David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/david-copperfield-2966_captive_i-was-a-captive-and-a-slave-i-loved-dora_2782154.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/david-copperfield-2966_captive_i-was-a-captive-and-a-slave-i-loved-dora_2782154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/david-copperfield-2966_captive_i-was-a-captive-and-a-slave-i-loved-dora_2782154.png) > “I was a captive and a slave. I loved Dora Spenlow to distraction! She was more than human to me. She was a Fairy, a Sylph, I dont know what she was--anything that no one ever saw, and everything that everybody ever wanted.” [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator idealizes a lover as an ethereal, unattainable being, reflecting deep yearning. **In simple terms:** He sees love as magical and beyond ordinary. Key Takeaway Recognize idealization in love. Themes romance idealization fantasy obsession Mood melancholic reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - relationship counseling - creative writing - self‑reflection Key Concepts literary archetype psychology of love unrealistic expectations Questions to Reflect On - Do you romanticize partners? - How does fantasy affect intimacy? A Different Perspective Idealization can blind reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [“All was over in a moment. I had fulfilled my destiny. I was a captive and a slave. I loved Dora Spenlow to distraction!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-was-over-in-a-moment-i-had-fulfilled-my-destiny-i-was-a-captive/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Your second trial is tomorrow night,' he said neutrally. The gold and silver thread in his black tunic shone in the candlelight. He never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/your-second-trial-is-tomorrow-night-he-said-neutrally-the-gold-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lovers had loved before, and lovers would love again; but no lover had ever loved, might, could, would, or should ever love, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/lovers-had-loved-before-and-lovers-would-love-again-but-no-lover-had/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [When we become captive to the Word of God, then we discover true freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/when-we-become-captive-to-the-word-of-god-then-we-discover-true/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [The voluntary captive The speechless the prisoner Which I hide in my very depths...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-desclos/the-voluntary-captive-the-speechless-the-prisoner-which-i-hide-in-my/) [Anne Desclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-desclos/) > [How many of us would be able to overcome our desires and resist the temptation of sin? How many of us even lower our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-taymiyyah/how-many-of-us-would-be-able-to-overcome-our-desires-and-resist-the/) [Ibn Taymiyyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-taymiyyah/) > [When Chris­tians in free countries win a soul for Christ, the new believer may become a member of a quietly living church. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/when-chris-tians-in-free-countries-win-a-soul-for-christ-the-new/) [Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/) > [Anything you strive to hold captive will hold you captive, and if you desire freedom you must give freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/anything-you-strive-to-hold-captive-will-hold-you-captive-and-if-you/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [You are eternity's hostage A captive of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/you-are-eternity-s-hostage-a-captive-of-mine/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [Death opens the gate of fame, and shuts the gate of envy after it; it unlooses the chain of the captive, and puts the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/death-opens-the-gate-of-fame-and-shuts-the-gate-of-envy-after-it-it/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Divine love does not weigh down, nor carry his servant captive and enslaved to the lowest depths, but raises him, supports him and magnifies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giordano-bruno/divine-love-does-not-weigh-down-nor-carry-his-servant-captive-and/) [Giordano Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giordano-bruno/) > [If I'm going to be held captive by social media, I'm going to use it against itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-shocked/if-i-m-going-to-be-held-captive-by-social-media-i-m-going-to-use-it/) [Michelle Shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-shocked/) > [“Emotions are captive to reality”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kao-kalia-yang/emotions-are-captive-to-reality/) [Kao Kalia Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kao-kalia-yang/) > [Cage of freedom, that's our prison; we're the jailer and captive combined Cage of freedom, cast in power; all the trappings of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-anderson/cage-of-freedom-that-s-our-prison-we-re-the-jailer-and-captive/) [Jon Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-anderson/) > [Make me a captive Lord, then I shall be truly free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/make-me-a-captive-lord-then-i-shall-be-truly-free/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## More by David Copperfield > [There is a safe spot within every tornado. My job is to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/there-is-a-safe-spot-within-every-tornado-my-job-is-to-find-it/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm inventing new principles. The audience has a point of view that no one can predict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-inventing-new-principles-the-audience-has-a-point-of-view-that-no/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I love creating new things. It's kind of my job, it's what I do, and I really have fun with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-love-creating-new-things-it-s-kind-of-my-job-it-s-what-i-do-and-i/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I was teaching magic at NYU when I was 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-was-teaching-magic-at-nyu-when-i-was-16/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [The real secret of magic lies in the performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/the-real-secret-of-magic-lies-in-the-performance/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Everyone was talking about having airplanes disappear. And I said, "Wait, wait, wait. That's what you like? I'd tell you a story about something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/everyone-was-talking-about-having-airplanes-disappear-and-i-said-wait/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [For me, it's about risk taking, taking things in new directions. Because every single time, no matter how much you learn, you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/for-me-it-s-about-risk-taking-taking-things-in-new-directions-because/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [It's okay for me to be gay, but God didn't make me that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/it-s-okay-for-me-to-be-gay-but-god-didn-t-make-me-that-way/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/ride-on-rough-shod-if-need-be-smooth-shod-if-that-will-do-but-ride-on/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Magicians are the people who began to use film as an illusion on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/magicians-are-the-people-who-began-to-use-film-as-an-illusion-on-stage/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm just waiting for people to start asking me to make the rain disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-just-waiting-for-people-to-start-asking-me-to-make-the-rain/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Magicians lose the opportunity to experience a sense of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/magicians-lose-the-opportunity-to-experience-a-sense-of-wonder/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I am fortunate to have the resources to have many methods to do each of my illusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-am-fortunate-to-have-the-resources-to-have-many-methods-to-do-each/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm the luckiest man in the world - performing 500 shows a year and loving what I do - illusion IS my day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world-performing-500-shows-a-year-and/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [From the very beginning, I studied acting, directing, lighting, dance and movement. I didn't rely on just the magic to take place. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/from-the-very-beginning-i-studied-acting-directing-lighting-dance-and/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) [Explore all 144 David Copperfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) ## More Captive quotes > [“Looking out the rain-fogged window at the gray November day, Mary felt almost grateful for the snug warmth of her well-heated chamber. Escape, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-george/looking-out-the-rain-fogged-window-at-the-gray-november-day-mary-felt/) [Margaret George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-george/) > [“Cathy, don't look so defeated. She was only trying to put us down again. Maybe nothing did work out right for her, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/cathy-don-t-look-so-defeated-she-was-only-trying-to-put-us-down-again/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/my-name-is-truth-and-i-am-the-most-elusive-captive-in-the-universe/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Make me a captive Lord, then I shall be truly free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/make-me-a-captive-lord-then-i-shall-be-truly-free/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“Trauma is personal. It does not disappear if it is not validated. When it is ignored or invalidated the silent screams continue internally heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-bernock/trauma-is-personal-it-does-not-disappear-if-it-is-not-validated-when/) [Danielle Bernock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-bernock/) > [“He knew that no matter what, this woman, once his blood slave, then his greatest downfall, and finally his salvation would never fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-stevens/he-knew-that-no-matter-what-this-woman-once-his-blood-slave-then-his/) [Erica Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-stevens/) > [“Every person I save is another victory against the evil that festers in this world and I will not rest until every captive is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinley-macgregor/every-person-i-save-is-another-victory-against-the-evil-that-festers/) [Kinley MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinley-macgregor/) > [“One of the worst cases of employee abuse that I witnessed in the workplace was a toxic manager holding employees captive in a remote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/one-of-the-worst-cases-of-employee-abuse-that-i-witnessed-in-the/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I wonder which one of us is more despicable.Is it the person relentlessly chasing after love or the person desperately holding it captive? We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lu/i-wonder-which-one-of-us-is-more-despicable-is-it-the-person/) [Dahlia Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lu/) > [Our bodies are held captive, but our pursuit of freedom cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/our-bodies-are-held-captive-but-our-pursuit-of-freedom-cannot-be/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [The rise of digital technology put marketers in a bind. No longer a captive audience, consumers were splitting their time across devices, social networks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/the-rise-of-digital-technology-put-marketers-in-a-bind-no-longer-a/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) > [Oh, Jacques, we're used to each other, we're a pair of captive hawks caught in the same cage, and so we've grown used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/oh-jacques-we-re-used-to-each-other-we-re-a-pair-of-captive-hawks/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Damn, Ian was already there. I braced myself as he came out from behind the RV. He sniffed, his nose wrinkling. Then he looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/damn-ian-was-already-there-i-braced-myself-as-he-came-out-from-behind/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [In 'Falling Skies,' I was playing a soldier and a fighter, and then, when I was taken captive, you're still in this post-apocalyptic world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/in-falling-skies-i-was-playing-a-soldier-and-a-fighter-and-then-when/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [Cage of freedom, that's our prison; we're the jailer and captive combined Cage of freedom, cast in power; all the trappings of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-anderson/cage-of-freedom-that-s-our-prison-we-re-the-jailer-and-captive/) [Jon Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-anderson/) Browse all 138 Captive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a captive and a slave. 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