Winterbourne: The Anti-Allie

In the book Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux, main character Allie Fox expresses an extreme distaste with the state of establishment in the United States. In fact, he is so against the government, culture, social hierarchy and other systems in place that he constantly complains, keeps his kids out of school, and goes so far as to start his own utopian society in Honduras. This is a much different tale from the majority of those that Miller.

Looking all the way back to the beginning of the semester, the character Winterbourne from Daisy Miller by Henry James could serve as the polar opposite of Allie. While Allie is completely at odds with the established society of America, Winterbourne embraces the structure of western culture and the specific requirements of being labeled a “gentleman”. He constantly strives to fit into his surroundings, whereas Allie is constantly trying to escape and impose his ideas upon others. Similarly, Winterbourne attempts to integrate Daisy Miller into the European social hierarchy, while Allie tries to minimize the role of America upon his family.