2. Daisy Miller

Further Judging of DaisyAll throughout my reading of Henry James’ “Daisy Miller,” I found myself contemplating how unconscious Daisy was of her “offensive” actions. At times I felt sorry for her since her actions seemed completely inoffensive in my opinion; however, Daisy does show a complete disregard for the culture she is immersed in and dismisses others by labeling them stiff. I made up my mind that she was consciously trying to shock people, even if she did not begin with this intention in mind, when she says to Mr. Winterbourne, “Since you have mentioned it…I am engaged”(58). When I read that I almost heard her childish tone leap off the page through the indignant “am”. True to character, when Winterbourne announces he believes her, she instantly takes it back in a similarly childish fashion. Miss Daisy Miller knew what she was doing and liked the attention she received from others in her high society circle. Whether or not going on walks at night is wrong or not is highly debatable, but it was a very different time.

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.

This story about a young girl named
Daisy Miller written in 1878 is one of the first instances where we can see the
relative vulgarity of the American society in comparison to the other
high-class societies of the world. It is based in the old world of Europe and
in those lands they hold to a certain standard of propriety and decency and
when Daisy Miller and her family come through they shock all with their lack of
knowledge of the ways of the European people.  For starters we find out early on that the family treats
their courier as more of a friend than as a servant, which is grossly contrary
to the “traditional” way of treating them as nothing more than a servant.

Also we see once Winterbourne has
the actual chance to spend alone time with her that she is extremely fickle and
a major flirt. Considering all her mannerism and her lack of regard for others’
feelings and good intentions, she is a perfectly spoiled brat. She is in Europe
to have her fun and will willingly use her fair-looks to gain what she wishes.
I feel like this novella and this character is a comment that Henry James had
on American society, how it the real high-class world we are, indeed, vulgar
and unmannered. He makes a comment on this spoiled and fickle behavior through
the actions of his character Daisy Miller.

In the novelette "Daisy Miller" by Henry James, character's national identities often proceed them.  For instance, every character from the Miller family is defined by the fact that they are American, especially Daisy's persona, that of the "pretty American flirt."  Winterbourne, too, is defined as "a young American" (James, 4) even before his name is revealed.  Besides the obvious reason that many of the characters are visitors in foreign countries (and must not be presumed by the reader to be originally from the place), by putting a constant emphasis on the characters' origins, James is reminding the reader that in the tourist ridden world of "Daisy Miller" much of a one's identity is defined simply by where one is from, and a visitor is expected by fellow visitors to always behave in the most appropriate manner so as to be a good representative of one's country, however, ultimately the Millers seem to make the most of their time by not following the set standards.

I don’t understand Daisy. Was she, after all, simply an innocent flirt? Is such obliviousness possible? There are a few passages that indicate she was merely stubborn and naïve. Giovanelli’s statement towards the end of the book “For myself I had no fear, and she wanted to go” makes a good case that she is just that. Assuming she is simply innocent one must wonder why she was traveling in the first place.
The point of the original “Tour” that most young British boys took was to gain knowledge of the world. Winterbourne gives the impression that he has gained such knowledge for living in “foreign parts”, and he is a very observant young gentleman. There are no such qualities that I can find in Daisy. She seamlessly flirts all over Europe picking up men and controversy wherever she goes and ignoring the warnings she receives.

Henry James never allows the reader to get to know Daisy Miller in his novella. Winterbourne presents her to us as an innocent flirt who is both illusive and unabashedly forward. However, we never witness Daisy’s motivations for her unconventional behavior. As the story progresses Winterbourne no longer seems sure if Daisy is innocent after all or if she is aware of the consequences of her actions and does not care. It seems to me that she must have reasons for choosing to flaunt tradition and spend her time with Giovanelli. James chooses to leave the story ambiguous so that one could assume that she was in love with Giovanelli, merely defining convention, or had undeclared feelings for Winterbourne. In the end, Winterbourne suggests that it was the disconnect of living in different countries that made it so hard for him to understand Daisy. Yet, the other travelers from America also shun her for her flirtations suggesting that there is a greater difference than national customs.

Daisy MillerI am glad that I do not live in 19th century Europe! In “Daisy Miller”, Henry James illustrates the strict and judgmental guidelines and stereotypes that drive the social life of that setting. While reading about situations that existed a hundred and twenty years ago, it is easy to dismiss the themes as irrelevant to modern life. But through their travels, Winterbourne and Daisy Miller’s relationship manages to illustrate much about travel that is still true today. In the reading we see that each of the cities highlighted offer very different standards for behavior. The culture of Geneva comes off as having very strict expectations of the upper class, while people in Vevey are less judgmental, and finally Rome shows people willing to gossip amongst themselves whenever girls behave immodestly in any way. While I’m sure these specific cities and their stereotypes have changed much over time, travel today will illustrate similarities with the past. Different places around the world, and the people who live in those places have different expectations and standards. This is something important to pay attention to when traveling, and can illustrate a lot about a country.

We can at least strive for this.

“He had, however, engaged to do more than proved feasible, in promising to present his aunt, Mrs Costello, to Miss Daisy Miller... he asked her if she had observed, in the hotel, an American family... ‘Oh, yes, I have observed them. Seen them- heard them- and kept out of their way.’ Mrs Costello was a widow with a fortune; a person of much distinction... He immediately perceived, from her tone, that Miss Daisy Miller’s place in the social scale was low. ‘I am afraid you don’t approve of them,’ he said. ‘They are very common,’ Miss Costello declared. ‘They are not the sort of Americans that one does one’s duty by not- not accepting.’ ‘Ah, you don’t accept them?’ said the young man. ‘I can’t, my dear Frederick. I would if I could, but I can’t (280).’”

“‘I would if I could, but I can’t.’”

Think about that for a moment. Now ask yourself, “What reasons or motives does this woman have in not acknowledging the Miller’s as equals?” Is it where they come from? Their social status? Their demeanor?

This example of disapproval seems rather archaic. <Exactly what I thought while reading a few days ago. Since then, I have experienced first hand what Daisy Miller and her family endured.

There’s this person. We’ll call them “Sam.” Sam’s upbringing, Sam’s family history, Sam’s origins could not be in more opposition to my own. We come from completely different stratospheres.

Daisy Miller

Daisy Miller by Henry James left me with conflicting feelings. On the one hand, I was disgusted by Daisy and her arrogant, excruciatingly immature attitude. On the other hand, I simply felt sorry for her. 

Daisy was, in some aspects, a prime example of what is wrong with the American tourist: we can be rude, obnoxious, and insufferably maladjusted to the country or the culture upon which we have thrust ourselves. We demand that things be done in our way, on our time, and we often find fault with peoples or places that fail to live up to our fantasies and expectations. In a nutshell, we go abroad in search of something new and different, and either cannot learn or refuse to learn how to cope with that new and different thing once we have found it. While not all American tourists fit this description, this seems to be the sort of reputation we have acquired abroad.