In Henry James’ novel Daisy Miller, published in 1878, we meet a peculiar young American girl traveling through the continent of Europe alongside her family named Daisy who disobeys the order and relentlessly stays true to herself. A young gentleman named Winterbourne is also introduced, a Europeanized American residing in Geneva who Daisy often describes as “stiff”. In these two main characters especially, the main theme of Americans abroad and the clash of the old world and the new world are seen. James uses the Grand Tour to show the main theme of the novel, Americans abroad, by placing this family on a Grand Tour themselves. He uses their clashes with the other Americans that have been cultivated to the European society to represent the different cultures and issues that they faced with one another. In a way, the …show more content…
The Millers were an American family of three consisting of the daughter Daisy, the mother Mrs. Miller, and the young son Randolph who were mostly uneducated. They traveled with no man of the family, which would never be thought about in European families as it was seen to be unsafe. It is also stated that the Millers do not go to see many of the famous spots or Europe. Daisy states, “He says he don’t care much about old castles. He’s only nine. He wants to stay at the hotel. Mother’s afraid to leave him alone and the courier won’t stay with him; so we haven’t been to many places.”(James, 12) The liability of traveling with a young child prevents the Millers from exploring where as the traditional grand tourist would try to expose themselves to as much of the different art and culture as possible. They had very sporadic interaction with the Italians as well. The Millers were on a grand tour of their own, but are very different than the traditional grand tourists we have come to know. James uses the grand tour to show the clash of two
To begin his tale, the Miller interjects after the Knight, interrupting the Monk. The Miller then apologizes in advance for what he is about to say; he is very drunk and may say some inappropriate things. After his short prologue, the Miller tells the story of a wild love affair between a woman named Alisoun and three men pining after her. The three men, Alisoun’s carpenter husband named John, a scholar name Nicholas, and a parish clerk called Absolon all take an almost obsessive interest in this eighteen-year-old woman. Although Alisoun is married to the carpenter, she quickly becomes secretly devoted to Nicholas after a short
Consequently, in “Daisy Miller”, it is clear to see that the author, Henry James, uses the
Gender and sexuality – Gender plays a large role in the story of Daisy Miller. In the beginning and at the end, Winterbourne is known to be “studying” in Geneva. What this really means is that he is spending time with older, foreign coquettes. On the other hand, Daisy Miller is heavily looked down upon especially when she is in Rome. When Winterbourne arrives in Rome, his aunt tells him “When she comes to a party she brings with her a gentleman with a good deal of manner and a wonderful mustache.” Also, people continue to question her actions throughout the novella. For example, when Daisy Miller explains that she is going to the Pincio, Mrs. Walker replies with, “Alone, my dear—at this hour?” The carriage scene is another example of this happening. Both Mrs. Walker and Winterbourne tell her that she should go home because they are worried about her reputation being ruined by her walking the streets of Rome. In conclusion, Winterbourne is never confronted about what he does with older foreign ladies whether it is in the beginning or in the end of the novella. However, Daisy Miller’s actions are criticized. Both gender and the attraction between Winterbourne and Daisy Miller play a large theme. Winterbourne’s ultimate desire is to have Daisy Miller to himself to ultimately marry
While Daisy was playing baseball she & her teammates would get scars & bruises from sliding on the bases because the wore short skirts.While being an all american girl Daisy & her teammates also needed to learn how to act like ladies.They learned how to charm a date,sip tea like a lady,& how to wear makeup.While they were traveling they never got to socialize much.They would only stay home for a day or two to spend time with family.Daisy was basically a living suitcase the way that Daisy
Readers are first introduced to the family at the center of the story, headed by patriarch Bailey. Bailey is, the audience soon learns, stubborn and self-centered, above all things. His mother (the grandmother) futilely tries to convince him to change the destination of their family vacation from Florida to Tennessee, but he ignores her. Even as his mother tells him about The Misfit, who is headed toward Florida, he remains “bent over the orange sports section of the Journal” (O’Connor 137). Bailey is not a likeable character; from both his reactions to events and descriptions of his character, one might imagine him to be a gruff, imperialistic man who believes his word to be law. He refuses to acknowledge the grandmother’s concerns by ignoring her outright (although, to be fair, readers quickly learn that everybody in the family seems to be in the habit of brushing her off), and takes
"They seem to have made several acquaintances, but the courier continues to be the most intime. The young lady, however, is also very intimate with some third-rate Italians, with whom she rackets about in a way that makes much talk.”(2.25) This show that Daisy likes and wants the attention of not one, but many men, charming them with her flirtatious acts. Every woman even nowadays likes the attention of men, however the attention of a few men all at once is what makes Daisy a flirt. Daisy acts in an unsophisticated way, not hiding the fact that she leads men on, rather giving people a chance to speak negatively about her. She simply enjoys flirting with men, making sure that in every place she travels, there's at least one man giving her attention. Just like in Geneva where Daisy flaunts Winterbourne around , in Rome she finds someone else to flaunt around, Mr. Giovanelli. At night, Winterbourne walks around admiring the beauty in Rome, when he sees Daisy, however she isn't alone it says that, “Giovanelli was at her side and Giovanelli, too, wore an aspect of even unwonted brilliancy.”(2.47) Daisy is never alone, she always has a man by her side, never
Daisy Miller examines European high society throughout the 1870s. The societal norms are placed firmly in the beliefs of the class system, social status, and education: all of which are needed in order to successfully assimilate into the world of the upper class. Henry James makes it clear that these norms make up the lives of the high society through his characterization of the “uncultivated” Daisy Miller. Daisy’s character is questionable throughout the novella, and the word “uncultivated” has been necessary to coming to that conclusion.
In Henry James’s “Daisy Miller” and Edith Wharton’s “The Other Two,” the narrators each disclose the complications of their party’s social formalities during circumstances within their own society. In both short stories, Winterbourne and Waythorn try to figure out their adored ones character and motives but for different reasons. In “Daisy Miller,” it’s noticeable that Mr. Winterbourne ends up longing for Daisy Miller as he tries to fully categorize the character she’s carelessly ruining. While in “The Other Two,” the narrator examines a society of how a married couple, Waythorn and Alice, adjust to an awkward
Daisy illustrates the typical women of high social standing; her life is moulded by society’s expectations. She is dependent and subservient to her husband. She is powerless in her marriage.
James' manipulation of appearances in Daisy Miller as well as other character's notions of these appearances provides us with a novella of enigmatic and fascinating characters. Daisy, the most complicated of these ambiguities, is as mysterious as she is flirtatious. James gives her a carefully constructed enigmatic quality that leaves the reader wondering what her motivations were and who she truly was. He structures the novella in such a way as to stress the insights that the supporting characters provide into Daisy's character, weather accurate or erroneous. Despite their questionable reliability, they allow James to make commentary on both European and American cultures and social class.
Taking Daisy with appreciation and without alarm, we also re-read her character and re-evaluate her moral status. We (the readers) seem to meet James’ sophistication with out own, by agreeing on a mixed interpretation of Daisy: she is literally innocent, but she is also ignorant and incautious. (1)
At first glance, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises is an over-dramatized love story of bohemian characters, but with further analysis, the book provides a crucial insight into the effects of World War I on the generation who participated in it. Hemingway’s novel follows a group of expatriates as they travel Europe and experience the post war age of the early 1900’s. The protagonist is Jake Barnes, an American war veteran who lives in Paris and is working as a journalist. Jake was injured during the War and has remained impotent ever since. His love interest, Lady Brett Ashley, is an alcoholic englishwoman with severe promiscuity, which is representative of women and the sexual freedom that emerged during the Progressive Era. Jake and Brett
In 1878, Henry James wrote, Daisy Miller, a novella about a young American girl and her travels in Europe. Daisy Miller is a complex short story with many underlying themes such as appearance versus reality, knowledge versus innocence, outward action versus inward meditation, and Nature versus urbanity. In this short story, one is left to judge whether Daisy Miller, the main character of the story, is “a pretty American flirt” or a misunderstood, modern young woman. By probing into the complexities and contradictions of Daisy’s character, it is obvious that Ms. Miller is merely a misunderstood young woman.
When Winterbourne first meets Daisy, he is willing to accept her for the vivacious young American girl she is. Although Daisy's customs are not what are expected of young girls in European society, Winterbourne is charmed by Daisy and her original ideals. He defends Daisy to the aristocracy, claiming that she is just "uncultivated" and is truly innocent. As the story progresses, Winterbourne finds himself questioning Daisy's true nature in comparison to the standards of European society. Winterbourne's opinion of Daisy changes from acceptance to condemnation as his tolerance of cultural standards is clouded by the prejudices of the European aristocrats.
Daisy Miller" by Henry James, is a study of a young American girl's rebuttal of all things "proper" and refusal to conform to social standards. One can see that realism is apparent throughout the text. The characters utilize free will throughout, are affected by their environment and familial relationships, and ultimately make their own choices. These choices eventually affect the outcome in an unhappy ending. Jame's creates characters that encompass both sides of the social sphere in this work. Winterbourne, Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Walker are all individuals that come from old money, a higher societal background, and expectations of what is deemed right and proper. In contrast, Daisy Miller, Mrs. Miller, Randolph and Eugenio are the opposite in many ways coming from an average societal realm and more realistic, modest lifestyle. Winterbourne has a rather telling conversation with Mrs. Walker and her statement to him upon asking what exactly it is that Daisy does that pushes "too far" sums up the overall reputation Daisy is establishing for herself. "(she does) Everything that is not done here. Flirting with any man she could pick up; sitting in corners with mysterious Italians; dancing all the evening with the same partners; receiving visits at eleven o'clock at night"(James, p. 1537). Daisy's ability to make her own choices and follow her free will are aspects of realism which writers began to utilize. Again, her environment and family most definitely affect her behavior.