A Book Report of Daisy Miller by Henry James
Subject of the Story
Daisy Miller is a remarkable short story written by Henry James. It was first appeared in Cornhill Magazine in 1878, then a year later it was published into a book by Harper and Brothers in United Kingdom. Since from its original title is Daisy Miller: A Study in Two Parts, this story is divided into two chapters with the setting of the story set in different country. This story has an issue of portraying and criticizing American society at that time. It tells a story about Daisy Miller, an American young woman, was traveling to Europe with her mother and her brother. By Daisy, James portrays American’s behaviour contrasted with European’s custom.
Some critiques say this story is criticizing American character. It can be seen from Daisy’s behaviour flirting some men in Rome. It signifies that American was lack of custom. And also Henry James, with this development, comments on the political atmosphere of the time period. England was losing its power, both as a world power and as a patriarchal society. Daisy Miller as an American woman is the symbolism of the threat that faced Europe. And people like Winterbourne, Mrs. Walker, and Mrs. Costello held on to European values as a way to ignore what was happening around them.
Setting of this story is divided into two chapters. Chapter one was set in Vevey, Switzerland in June and chapter two was set in Rome, Italy in the end of January. The setting is clearly stated in the beginning paragraph on each chapters. This story uses third person point of view which gives much clear description about situation and each character’s thought when facing situation. The story also contains some symbols and motifs. For instance a character of Daisy itself. She symbolizes American character who was lack of custom and tradition.
Plot of the Story
It begins from an introduction of young American man named Winterbourne who had come from Geneva to Vevey to visit his aunt. One morning, after having breakfast at his aunt’s hotel room, he saw a nine-years-old boy was walking along the path. Then, the boy stopped in front of him and asked a lump of sugar which lied on table beside him. Not long after, the boy’s sister appeared, a pretty American young woman. Winterbourne was charmed by her beauty and fell in love with her soon. She was Daisy Miller. Daisy was travelling around Europe with her brother, Randolph, and her mother. For a half of hour, Daisy and Winterbourne had a conversation and then knew each other. Winterbourne soon told his aunt, Mrs. Costello, about Daisy. After hearing her nephew’s story, she disliked Daisy because Daisy was an American. She forbade him to acquaint with her, but Winterbourne ignored his aunt.
In Vevey, they spent their day visiting one of historical castle there, named Chillon Castle. At there, Winterbourne could not stop praising her beauty. Before returning to the hotel, Winterbourne informed Daisy that he would like to return to Geneva the following day. Knowing that, Daisy asked him to visit Rome because she will be there after visiting Switzerland.
In the end of January, Winterbourne visited Rome. His aunt had been there for several weeks. Mrs. Costello told her nephew about Daisy’s conduct before he arrived in Rome. She said that Daisy flirted some men in Rome, whereas it did not suit with custom there. To find a clarity, he visited Daisy’s apartment. At the apartment, he met Mrs. Walker, a woman whom he knew in Geneva. She, was also the hostess where Daisy reside, told Winterbourne what Daisy had done with men. Not long after, Randolph appeared and greeted him, then Daisy appeared too.
In Winterbourne’s visit, Daisy would like to hang around with Mr. Giovanelli, a gentleman whom she filrted. Her mother and Mrs. Walker did not allow because it was not right for woman hang around at late, but she ignored it. Knowing that, Winterbourne accompanied her to see the gentleman. In Pincio, they met Mr. Giovanelli. Winterbourne was surely envy with him. He had warned about Rome’s custom and Roman fever that can be contagious her anytime.
Day by day Daisy hang around with Mr. Giovanelli. Winterbourne could not stop warning her about her conduct, but she ignored it. One night, Daisy and Mr. Giovanelli visited Colosseum. Winterboure was surprised knowing them there. The Colosseum was the place where Roman fever easily be contagious people. Days later, Daisy was sick because of Roman fever or known as malaria. A week after that, she died. Winterbourne blamed Mr. Giovanelli to hang around at Colosseum at night. In the end, Winterbourne returned to Geneva.
Main Characters
1. Daisy Miller
Daisy Miller is the main character in this story. She is about a teenager. It can be seen from Winterbourne’s saying
“American girls are the best girls,” he said cheerfully to his young companion. (James 6)
She is a charm, cuptivate, and splendid American girl. Her character in this story is portraying American society in the middle of 19th century (especially upper class society). American character can be seen from her conduct and behaviour through the story. America was luck of custom and tradition. It can be seen from Daisy’s conduct flirted with some men in Rome.
“It is really too dreadful,” she said. “That girl must not do this sort of thing. She must not walk here with you two men. Fifty poeple have noticed her.” (James 51)
“It may be enchanting, dear child, but it is not the custom here,” urged Mrs. Walker, leaning forward in her victoria, with her hands devoutly clasped.
“Well, it ought to be, then!” said Daisy. “If I didn’t walk I should expire.” (James 53)
Mrs. Walker as a European, consider her behaviour does not suit with European custom. Europeans are formal, restrained and disciplined. From her conduct, this story is really about a teenage American girl who rebels against the rigid British patriarchal values.
Daisy’s character, from Winterbourne’s perspective, has two different sides. In one side, she is naive, quiet and innocent, but in one side, she is also ignorant, unsophisticated, and flirtatoius. However, her bad character develops because she is at the developmental stage where teenagers question rules, parental and societal, and seek to find their place in the world.
2. Frederick Winterbourne
Frederick Winterbourne is American by birth, but he has lived in Geneva for long time so that he has become Europeanized. The narrator uses Winterbourne to narrate Daisy’s manner and behaviour as an American from Europeanized point of view. As have been explained before, Daisy’s conduct does not match with European custom. Therefore, he cannot appreciate the freedom exercised by Daisy Miller.
“Well,” said Winterbourne, “when you deal with natives you must go by the custom of the place. Flirting is a purely American custom; it doesn’t exist here. So when you show yourself in public with Mr. Giovanelli, and without your mother — “ (James 61)
Turning Point
Turning point of this story is when Winterbourne saw Daisy had two different characters. In the beginning, Winterbourne saw Daisy as a naive, quiet, and innocent girl.
She was very quiet; she sat in a charming, tranquil attitude; (James 12)
Miss Daisy Miller looked extremely innocent. Some people had told him that, after all, American girls were exceedingly innocent. (James 14)
On the other hand, when she was moved to Rome, her conduct showed that she was ignorant, unsophisticated, and flirtatoius.
But this young girl was not a coquette in that sense; she was very unsophisticated; she was only a pretty American flirt. (James 15)
“It may be enchanting, dear child, but it is not the custom here,” urged Mrs. Walker, leaning forward in her victoria, with her hands devoutly clasped.
“Well, it ought to be, then!” said Daisy. “If I didn’t walk I should expire.” (James 53)
Turning point happened when Daisy flirted with Mr. Giovanelli. She had been warned not to hang around with man because it did not suit with Roman custom. She ignored about people opinion about herself and keep flirting with Mr. Giovanelli. She also ignored about Roman fever which can be contagious when hanging around at late by night. In the end, her ignorance brought her to her death.
Opinions about this Story
Daisy Miller is a great depiction of American character in middle of 19th century, especially upper class society. It is brilliant for James to criticize American hedonistic lifestyle and their bad conduct by contrasting with European’s custom and tradition. It can be seen from the beginning of the story
In this region, in the month of June, American travelers are extremely numerous; it may be said, indeed, that Vevey assumes at this period some of the characteristics of an American watering place. There is a flitting hither and thither of “stylish” young girls, a rustling of muslin flounces, a rattle of dance music in the morning hours, a sound of high-pitched voices at all times. . . neat German waiters, who look like secretaries of legation; Russian princesses sitting in the garden; little Polish boys walking about held by the hand, with their governors. (James 3–4)
The difference between Americans and Europeans is solidified. The American tourists are carefree and noisy while the Europeans are formal, restrained and disciplined.
James also, by using Daisy, wants to give an example American lifestyle and show that America was lack of custom and tradition. These two excerpts below shows glorious Daisy’s life and her bad attitude toward European.
She came tripping downstairs, buttoning her long gloves, squeezing her folded parasol against her pretty figure, dressed in the perfection of a soberly elegant traveling costume. (James 33)
“Everything that is not done here. Flirting with any man she could pick up; sitting in corners with mysterious Italians; dancing all the evening with the same partners; receiving visits at eleven o’clock at night. Her mother goes away when visitors come.” (James 55)
Theme of this story is an innocent American girl does not know about value. Daisy did whatever she wanted without paying attention to rules and custom when traveling outside her country. She ignored her reputation as a woman when flirting with men and be noticed by people. Tragically, in the end, she dead because of her ignorance. However, her ignorance developed because she was innocent — did not be taught about value, norm, tradition, and custom.
References
“Analysis of Daisy Miller: Henry James and Social Class Critique.” Article Myriad, www.articlemyriad.com/analysis-daisy-miller-henry-james-social-class-critique/.
Henry, J. (1879). Daisy Miller. London, United Kingdom: Harper and Brothers. Doi:http://etext.lib.virginia.edu