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travel companions

Submitted by Lindsay on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 13:30

I found that among many questions of travel and assimilation Daisy Miller illustrated the importance of traveling with good company. Although Daisy Miller wanted to be part of “society” her interest in interesting people who are not so “grave” (as she described Winterbourne) enhanced her experience in Europe.
Mrs. Miller is rarely described outside of her hotel room, if not in search of Randolph or making a rare and short appearance at a society gathering. I can’t help but wonder if this is due to the fact that she does not have the company of her husband. Similarly, Randolph does not want anything more than to return home. In his situation, he has been brought on a trip that, in his defense, is much more suitable for a more mature traveler. Thus, both Mrs. Miller and Randolph appear to be much less enamored with the trip than Daisy.
With the company of gentlemen Daisy seems to enjoy her experiences abroad much more. Even upon meeting Winterbourne for the first time, she explained how her company was hindering her ability to see the sights in Vevey; “[My mother] said she couldn’t go. Randolph wouldn’t go either; he says he doesn’t think much of old castles”(13). With the company of Winterbourne and then Giovanelli, Daisy seems to be the only one in her family who really enjoyed the trip…even though she did not live to share her stories.

and what of the millers?

Submitted by call.me.ishmael on Wed, 09/10/2008 - 13:42.

Yea, that’s an interesting point, I really didn’t get a sense as to why the rest of the Millers were there. I guess it’s as we talked about in class, they just went to Europe because it was the mode, just to say that they had gone. I don’t think the elder Millers really did it to enhance their children’s horizons or culture them, because Mrs. Miller seemed just as caught up in the gossip toward her daughter as the others. I mean, like she did not know her daughter’s situation with Giovanelli (whether she was going to marry him or not) nor did she seem as if it was her motherly duty to find out. Mrs. Miller kind of let her children tramp around the cities and did not seem to really care. I found this characteristic, ie her indifference, quite peculiar in her.