Literature Review: Henry James's Daisy Miller
Daisy Miller is a novella written by Henry James, first published in the Cornhill Magazine in the summer of 1878 and reprinted as a novella (James). The book serves as an allegory in which James contrasts the young American culture with the sophisticated European lifestyle he was well acquainted with (D. M. Biography). The question arises whether Daisy, Annie P. ‘Daisy’ Miller is an innocent victim, involved in societal expectations far above her understanding or whether she is as contemptible as her actions seem to suggest. James uses symbolism (D.M. Symbolism, Imagery & Allegory) in this carefully constructed novella to portray Daisy’s character as it blooms and eventually dies. Through an examination of the story, assessing the point of view, and observing Daisy’s character as it unfurls, and eventually succumbs to Roman Fever, it becomes clear that she is neither admirable nor contemptible. Rather, Daisy is a symbol of a young nation that is out of place on foreign soil.
Winterbourne meets Daisy in a hotel in Vevey, Switzerland, on an extended vacation, where her mother and nine-year-old brother, Randolph, accompany the young woman. Immediately Frederick Winterbourne is attracted to the extremely pretty, well-to-do young woman. Although he is a twenty-seven-year-old American, he has spent most of his life studying in Geneva. Frederick is immediately attracted to Daisy, yet confused by her behavior. What attracts Winterbourne is the young woman’s spontaneity and charm. Although she seems somewhat ‘uncultivated,’ he continues to be uncertain about how innocent she really is. Winterbourne wants to introduce her to his aunt, the sophisticated Mrs. Costello, who refuses the meeting. Nevertheless, he escorts her, unchaperoned to a nearby castle, a well-known attraction for tourists. Later, toward winter of that same year, Winterbourne follows Daisy to Rome, well aware that she will be there. Rome represents the antithesis of what Daisy seems to represent youth, vitality and relative naïveté. Much to his chagrin, he becomes increasingly aware of the reputation Daisy has built within the company of ladies’ men, particularly the rogue, Giovanelli. Mr. Giovanelli, it seems, has earned repute as a womanizer with a questionable background. Winterbourne, although dismayed by Daisy’s activities and reputation, fears for the health of the young woman.
It is interesting to note that the story is told almost entirely from the third-person perspective of Winterbourne. The carefully constructed use of dialog (Dialogism in Daisy Miller) helps to better understanding the nature of the characters and their interactions. The story’s action is captured from Winterbourne’s vantage point, which serves to give very little insight into Daisy’s true character. Winterbourne although acutely aware of what he sees and hears from others, sees Daisy through a prism of sorts. Due to their limited encounters, he never really gets to know her. Like a fresh flower, Daisy has attracted him, yet the circumstances that surround her questionable behavior, and reputation, confuse him even more. When Winterbourne suggests that he wishes Daisy would only flirt with him, she offhandedly replies that he would be the last person she would think of flirting with, because he is ‘too stiff’ and cold. While the third-person perspective gives some insight into Frederick’s character, the reader is only able to gather an awareness of Daisy’s nature through Winterbourne’s observations, conversations, and the comments made by other characters in the novella. Even his aunt, Mrs. Costello, sees Daisy as ‘horribly common.’
The question remains, is Daisy merely ‘common’ and unsophisticated, or is there something truly contemptible about her character? In order to understand Daisy, it is necessary to look beyond Winterbourne’s perception and delve into James’s use of symbolism. Daisy contrasts with every other character in the story. Even her younger brother and mother, in their ignorance, diverge from Daisy’s beguiling ways. She is nicknamed after a flower, which is little more than a weed. From the start of the story, it appears that her charms may be short lived. The novella opens with Daisy dressed in white muslin, emanating a cheerful and open manner. Although she appears quite innocent to Winterbourne, whose name suggests his cold and aloof nature, the question that remains throughout the story is just how naïve the young girl truly is.
As Daisy transfixes her way through the story, it becomes clear that she is neither a contemptible nor admirable. Rather, it appears that Daisy’s character represents the nouveau riche society already making its mark in Europe in the late 1800s. Daisy seems oblivious to well-established cultural standards and norms. Moreover, she rejects them as unnecessary and inferior. She gallivants through Switzerland’s high society, on into an Italian sub-culture with a less than savory reputation. Winterbourne and the wealthy socialite, Mrs. Walker (already versed in Italian high-society), attempt to bring Daisy to her senses. Although she has earned her reputation as a flirt, it remains unclear as to how naïve Daisy truly is. What is evident is that Daisy is in over her head. In the end, although Winterbourne warns Giovanelli about the dangers of keeping Daisy out so late into the night, it is too late. She succumbs to malaria. Ironically, the illness is nicknamed Roman Fever (D.M. Metaphor Analysis) with an established duel meaning. Daisy dies the next week, and she is buried in the dead of winter. Although Daisy appears immoral (even scandalous), by European standards in the late 19th Century, Daisy represents a new breed of woman. Moreover, she represents an American culture that has little use for established old-world ways. Her ‘recklessness,’ as described by Mrs. Walker, eventually costs Daisy her life. Daisy Miller serves as a political statement that reflects the societal transformation occurring amongst middle-class Americans at that time. Daisy becomes a victim of old-world sentiments, neither admirable nor contemptible merely foolish, unsophisticated, and out of her realm.
Works Cited
“Daisy Miller: Biography: Henry James.” Novelguide.com. Adapted 1974. Web. Dec. 2014
<http://www.novelguide.com/daisy-miller/biography>
“Daisy Miller: Metaphor Analysis” Novelguide.com. 2014. Web 2014
<http://www.novelguide.com/daisy-miller/metaphor-analysis>
“Daisy Miller Symbolism, Imagery & Allegory” Shmoop University. 2014. Web. 2014
<http://www.shmoop.com/daisy-miller/symbolism-imagery.html>
James, H. “Daisy Miller.” Page By Page Books. Adapted 1974. Web. Dec. 2014
<http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Henry_James/Daisy_Miller/index.html>
Tatertot. “Dialogism in Daisy Miller.” Scribd. Jul. 2007. Web. Dec. 2014
<http://www.scribd.com/doc/202924/Henry-James-Daisy-Miller-Analysis#scribd>
