The aim of this essay is to present you with the reflections drawn upon the reading of the novel ‘Daisy Miller’ written in 1878 by Henry James. Daisy Miller has been considered to be the first international novel by Henry James and has been treated as an international piece of writing which has managed to build a bridge between Europe and America, on behalf of literature readers throughout years. This essay will focus on the issue of innocence and the way in which it is presented in the novel. There has been lots of heated debate concerning the way in which innocence has entered the plot and context of this novel. There have been those who consider Daisy Miller to be a novel that approaches among other themes the issue of innocence by showing how innocent the main leading personality of the novel has been. On the other hand, there have been those readers and literary critics who have been arguing that the issue of innocence is approached on behalf of Henry James in a paradox way. They seem to believe that Henry James paints the portrait of a girl who is not so innocent, called Daisy, thus managing to build his hymn and appraisal to the value of being innocent. This research paper aims at presenting you with the thoughts deriving from the readings of this novel, which prove that Daisy Miller is presented on behalf of the writer in such a way that she turns out to be an innocent person. The paper will present you with all the information given to the readers on behalf of the writer, in such a way that he manages to convince them that Daisy Miller was indeed innocent.
The plot of the novel is built around the trip of Daisy Miller, her brother Randolph and their aunt to Europe. Daisy represents the American world. America at the time of the novel was the land of anything new, mysterious, unconventional. America was the land of the new world. On the other side of the planet, Europe remained the stable power, the Old World which went under the effects of the New World. Like anything new, America and its inhabitants, Americans, used to look at people from other countries with mixed feelings. Americans were attracted to the mystery of the past which Europe represented and wanted to visit the Old Continent.
On the other hand, they were too surprised by the narrow mindedness of Europeans and their being stuck to their old traditions with a very limited chance of opening up their minds and / or souls. Americans saw Europeans keep a very timid social profile and talk to no one, especially if it was to build any interactive relationships with other nations apart from European. There seemed to be an evident racism held against Americans on behalf of the Europeans and Henry James knew that. He wrote a novel in which he provides his readers with details on the way people used to live, during a time period which was characterized mainly by national conflicts. Henry James seems to have experienced this internal and ongoing conflict, and he gives the impression of missing something himself. Although there are moments in which Daisy Miller is represented as an innocent girl, there are also times when Daisy Miller is not mentioned at all.
Probably this is because there were mixed feelings within James’ soul. On one hand the writer loved America and he showed to be happy about his life there, but at the same time he presents daisy Miller to be naïve or light-hearted. Keeping in mind the main symbolism of the novel, readers realize that Henry James has mixed feelings concerning the character and culture of both America and Europe and their interactive relationships. Therefore, readers realize quickly that Henry James has found himself in one boat surfing to Europe and then back to America. James has one of his feet in the boat travelling to Europe and the second foot has stayed backwards on the American shore. This is why Daisy Miller, the symbol of the relationships developed between Europeans and Americans is presented in such a paradox way. Americans did not seem to be affected negatively by the racism they experienced while visiting Europe. Although Americans used to be treated negatively, they kept their love and passion for the mysterious and valuable past of Europe. They travelled to Europe and lots of them decided to spend the rest of their lives there.
But Americans were not as kind as they ought to be. They were treating Europeans with suspicion. They were so deeply committed to finding their own path that they could not think of anything less for themselves. They carried the belief that they were powerful and survivors inside them. And this piece of knowledge empowered them to take pride in their differences from other nations, to unite and stand across all those who insisted on not feeling or even showing their respect towards them.
In parallel, Europeans shared a similar behavior. They were hesitant to open themselves, they were afraid or simply reluctant to become friends with the Americans and they were observing them just by a certain distance. It is this kind of interplay which this novel serves. Henry James has seen this interplay and wishes to shed light on it. He wishes to draw the most detailed portrait of both nations and their relationship.
There has been a variety of experiences and feelings which are born within the borders of this interplay. Innocence is one of these issues which have been troubling readers. Innocence is a word signifying the ability to think without being cunning. Innocence is testified as the characteristic which elevates people and makes them look naïve, simplified and not complex, genuine and not false. When one is innocent, then he/she is automatically considered to be a virgin soul.
Daisy Miller herself is characterized by others as innocent. Nevertheless, there have been lots of instances in which Winterbourne, the main male figure of the novel, wonders on the nature of Daisy’s character. Is she really an innocent girl? Or could it be a woman who insists on taking advantage of her false innocence?
Daisy’s behavior who flirts with Winterbourne but shows no concrete, stable behavior is a symbol of this innocence. But at the same time lots of speculation is born since Daisy does not go on keeping a stable relationship with him. She seems to be hanging out with other men like Mr. Giovanelli as well. At first, Mr. Winterbourne feels betrayed and finds her not behaving well. He is afraid of the fact that Daisy may have realized her beauty and her impact on men and he has started suspecting that she may have been flirting with him on purpose. All her characteristics like her being spontaneous, free as far as her choices are concerned, and easy going are interpreted as a not so sincere behavior.
But then the contradiction comes to awaken readers’ minds and surprise them. Daisy Miller is presented as such a fragile female. She seems to be reacting in such a way that her being so sensitive and sentimental is more than clear. She appears to be admiring the beauty of nature which makes her realize the magnitude of creation and this is another way in which the writer depicts her sensitivity. If a sensitive girl is not innocent, then who is?
Nymphs have been mythological female figures from the Ancient Greek Mythology who represent the virgin spirits of nature and represent innocence. Henry James wishes to emphasize on the fact that she carries within her soul all these characteristics which prove her to be sensitive and innocent, so he calls her a Nymph. It could also be argued that Mr. Giovanelli characterizes her in such a word, so that the writer can succeed in making it clear to his readers that Daisy was not an easily approachable girl. Men could not touch her easily like Nymphs in Mythology. So, Mr. Winterbourne had misjudged.
The moment when Daisy dies is the ultimate moment of the novel which praises Daisy’s innocence. She is such a sensitive girl who has entered the world of common mortals. She has had tender and strong feelings for Mr. Winterbourne but has never had the chance to reveal these feelings to him. The moment of her death is one of the most sensitive ones of the novel. She has found the way to express her true feelings to Mr. Winterbourne through the message she has left to her aunt.
Henry James is a writer of great talent who has managed to capture the freshness and innocence of the younger soul of a woman. He has managed to show that this fresh, unconventional girl is the synonym to class and harmony. The total lack on her behalf of any kind of behavior on purpose is the proof of her being innocent.
Readers spend most of their time trying to find whether one or another thing happens. They are a bit disorientated by Daisy’s behavior of which they are not sure. Is she a woman who enjoys flirting with men at any cost? Or is she an innocent girl who has fallen in love with Mr. Winterbourne but she is too shy to reveal it? It is noticeable that the writer does not express this belief in Daisy’s innocence clearly but he tries to lead the readers to the realization of her innocence.
Daisy’s innocence is also obvious through her behavior in all instances and cases of her behavior. She appears to be the only American visitor of Europe who does not make fun of them. She appears to be against any strict social rules. She believes in the power of freedom and the entitled right of each individual to make up his / her mind. She has no antagonism or egoism within her interactions and relationships. She seems to be believing in herself and be certain of who she is and this is why she does not pretend to be something else. She is a powerful, self-confident girl who has managed to find the behavior which she feels that represents her.
She says what she wants and she expresses her real wishes without thinking twice or feeling afraid of people laughing ta them. Even the way her life ends is another proof of her innocence. She has gone out for a night walk to the Coliseum and she is too naïve to think of the danger to catch malaria. Yet, she does and as a result she dies. Even the way she dies is a kind of proof for her innocence. She dives into the beauty of the night walk without thinking of the danger of losing her life.
They say that others are the mirror of us. The opinions people have about us are the basis on which one can stand upon and study the real nature of his /her personality. One could argue to say that Daisy Miller is the mirror with two faces. One face is America, which I sweet, attractive, new and young and the other is Europe which is stricter, old-fashioned, and traditional. And Daisy Miller is the objective crystal through which innocent people can find all the stimulations they need in order to look into the real meaning of what innocence is supposed to mean.
Works Cited
James, Henry. Daisy Miller (1878 edition). New York: Penguin Books, 1986.
