Analysis of Daisy Miller Essay

An Analysis of The American Girl

Daisy Miller

By

Henry James

In the novel Daisy Miller, Daisy Miller herself represents the typical American Girl of the late 19th century. She is free-spirited and her individuality most likely reflects the social movement of the American middle-class. Daisy is introduced to us as an extremely pretty young American, who is on a European tour with her mother and brother. She is seemingly unaware of customs and traditions of European high society, and very much has issue as they apply to interaction with the opposite sex.

Daisy is frequently seen out with young men un-chaperoned, this creates scandal and gossip. This also clearly portrays Daisy as the novel's protagonist as she goes against the advice of parental units and suitors. Her upfront relationship with Winterbourne reveals her true self, even though it may come off as snarky she is unable to fully mask her immaturity. Winterbourne upon meeting her in Switzerland has difficulty understanding her behavior. I have more friends in New York than in Schenectady-more gentleman friends; and more young lady friends too," she resumed in a moment. She paused again for an instant; she was looking at Winterbourne with all her prettiness in her lively eyes and in her light, slightly monotonous smile. 'I have always had,' she said, 'a great deal of gentleman's society.'" (p. 10). Specifically from this he cannot determine whether she is naive and innocent or calculating and experienced.Though he does not know he accept what she offers him; that being spontaneity, freedom and love. This is most true from the way Winterbourne reacts post Daisy Millers tragic death. Even more so, Daisy reveals more of herself on her death bed. At the moment of death, Daisy's wish is that Winterbourne should know that she is not engaged with Giovanelli.

Imagery can be seen through the characters of Daisy and Winterbourne most clearly. The protagonist, Daisy Miller, represents the common unsophisticated Americans who visit Europe. Her first name is the same as one of the most common of flowers. This plant, the English daisy, grows wildly in the United States. Her surname is also common in America, possibly even suggesting that she is one of the common people, maybe even new money. The color association between Daisies and Daisy are interesting also. Daisies have white petals surrounding a bright yellow center. It is interesting that Daisy Miller wears white muslin in the opening chapter while exhibiting a sunny disposition. The polar opposite of the sunny, bubbly, American is Winterbournes character. His name first of all obviously represents coldness, be that romantically or socially. This being evident because Winter, of course, is the coldest season of the year. Upon researching the word bourne, it seems to be a brook, one that coincidentally only flows during the winter. Several times in the novel, Daisy reproaches Winterbourne for being stiff, meaning simply cold and inelastic, like a frigid icicle, because of his manner.

Daisys view of Winterborune, is most likely how James wanted to portray the American view of the European society, even though Winterbourne is American he is quite proper. "Daisy gave a violent laugh. 'I never heard anything so stiff! If this is improper, Mrs. Walker,' she pursued, 'then I am all improper, and you must give me up. Good-bye; I hope you'll have a lovely ride!' and, with Mr. Giovanelli, who made a triumphantly obsequious salute, she turned away." (p. 34). Daisy's attitudes were frowned upon by the European culture and European Americans, such as Winterbourne. Differences in the social etiquettes of Americans and Europeans were obvious when Daisy and Winterbourne interacted. When Winterbourne first met Daisy, she talked very freely as if she had known Winterbourne for quite sometime. In Europe it was not customary for men and women to talk so openly in public, especially since they did not know each other. Daisy refuses to conform to the customs and conventions of high society and spurns expectations that she behave as a demure stereotype in male-female relationships. For example, she goes about un-chaperoned with Giovanelli, she ignores Mrs. Walkers advice about public behavior and she tells Winterbourne that Ive never allowed a gentleman to dictate to me or to interfere with anything I do.

This short story serves as both a psychological description of the mind of a young woman, and an analysis of the traditional views of a society where she is a clear outsider. Henry James uses Daisy's story to discuss what he thinks Europeans and Americans believe about each other, and more generally the prejudices common in any culture. Throughout the story, the differences between the American and European cultures are shown through the journeys of the independent minded Daisy Miller in a European society that was refined and full of customs that the American did not want any part of.