Demon Copperhead is a contemporary American retelling of David Copperfield. Barbara Kingsolver penned this book in gratitude to Charles Dickens’ “impassioned critique of institutional poverty and its damaging effects on children in his society.” Kingsolver is a masterful storyteller whose characters are as complex, relatable, and memorable as those from Dickens. Demon Copperhead, the first-person storyteller, lived with the nickname from a young age—Demon is a nickname for Damon, and Copperhead referred both to his red hair and his father’s snake tattoo. It was a daunting name for a boy whose father died before he was born and a mother who hardly managed to maintain custody of him. She was an addict and succumbed to her addictions early in this lengthy novel; she died from an oxy overdose on Demon’s eleventh birthday. Mom had been a product of the American foster system, and Demon goes on to suffer despicable abuse when placed in foster care.
This engaging and heartrending story is set in a stereotypic Appalachian area, Lee County, Virginia, where the families are often called hillbillies and the opioid crisis is rampant. After witnessing his mother’s addictions and failed attempts to survive, Demon seems to have the mental resolve to avoid his predisposition to poverty and addiction. For a short time, he enjoys being a promising high school football star and successful student. But, as is often the case, a doctor prescribes painkillers after a football injury, and Demon’s drug use becomes excessive and eventually out of control.
As a reader, I empathized with Demon, the protagonist; he had a wonderful personality, and his story was riveting. Demon was creative and had great artistic talent. He loved superheroes and developed his skill for drawing superheroes throughout his life. Demon recognizes the “superpowers” in the people he interacts with, which is how Kingsolver depicts his perceptiveness as he meets foster families, teammates, his biological grandmother, and many other fascinating characters. His ability to really “see” others fuels his journey to adulthood. Of course, he can also pinpoint the antiheroes he encounters. His work ethic is among many good qualities, but myriad factors, including the lack of role models, put him at a severe disadvantage.
This story of multi-generational families who share a rural connectedness demonstrates the strong link between poverty and opioid use, as prescribed by immoral doctors and promoted by big pharma companies. The story is told through Demon’s eyes, and the reader knows he survives since he lived to tell the story. Yet, numerous other characters demonstrate the life limitations of people with few resources and nothing to lose. When reading about the treatment of parentless children subjected to child labor, forced to fend for themselves daily, and treated worse than animals, one gets a clear picture of how and why Americans are in the midst of an opioid crisis.
Adults recognized Demon’s youthful promise, and at least one teacher attempted to mentor him into a career path where his artistic proclivities could be productive. Of course, before he was injured, his football coaching team provided nurturing. But, for the most part, teachers and school people were not characterized as champions for Demon or others living in poverty, especially those caught up in the Social Services system. The doctors, social workers, and others in charge of well-being hardly supported his positive growth and often did more harm than good. The religious community provided little for the ilk of Demon, and hopelessness prevails in Demon’s society. Kingsolver believes that our American system is failing our children, and although circumstances have changed, attitudes and prejudices haven’t improved much since the time of Dickens.
