Throughout David Copperfield Dickens masterfully sustains the action through a series of dramatic contrasts. As the story unfolds, David's happiest moments are often followed by those of extreme misery and the author weaves the more humorous elements of the story between the times of great tragedy and sorrow. These experiences of joy and pain contribute to young David's growth to maturity until, at the end of the novel, he is able to find both success as a writer and true happiness with the woman he loves.