But Dickens is not willing to let Mr. Murdstone go without any psychological depth: he's not just a monster (though he is a monster, don't get us wrong). The thing is, there is a fascinating moment in the novel when Mrs. Copperfield timidly protests David being whipped. Miss Murdstone answers back that her brother has been whipped loads of times. Mrs. Copperfield asks if it did Mr. Murdstone any good to be whipped like that. And Mr. Murdstone butts in: "Do you think it did [me] harm?" (4.95).