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Allie Frymire Lawrence English 8-2 December 18, 2013 Formal Option The Motifs of the Seasons in Daisy Miller

In Henry Jamess Daisy Miller, he uses the motifs of winter and summer to convey the mood and tone of certain portions of the book. This novella consists of four parts, with the first two sections focusing on the aspects of summer, and the last two sections encompassing dominantly winter-like themes, tones, and events. Daisy Miller entails the story of two young people in 1870s Europe, Daisy Miller and Fredrick Winterbourne, who are both expatriates of America. The two first meet in June in Vevey, Switzerland and their encounters in Switzerland are in the first two sections. After that, Daisy and Winterbourne meet again in Rome, where it is now January. However, the tension between Winterbourne and Daisy is infinitesimally heightened, as Daisy, being her flirtatious self, has found another man to spend her time with: Mr. Giovanelli. The plot and nature of each section is significantly affected by the current season, either summer or winter, and this seasonal foreshadowing also reflects the relationship between Winterbourne and Daisy. The plot and moods of each section of the novella are primarily structured around the seasons in order to convey Jamess purpose of the novel. The conflicting entities of conformity and rebellion are seen throughout the novella, as Daisy is keener to disobey societal norms, while Winterbourne, who is described as stiff by Daisy, conforms to European tradition and tries to

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keep Daisy out of trouble. However, Winterbourne is not entirely opposed to betraying tradition. When Winterbourne first meets Daisy in Vevey, he is enticed by her glow and youth, but, by European standards, he would not have been allowed to speak to Daisy without prior permission. The summery, romantic feel of the entire section feels as though a sunbeam is constantly shining on and encouraging the protagonist, and this air of summer and longevity is what drives Daisy and Winterbournes relationship. As the section progresses, Winterbourne takes Daisy on a trip to Chateau Chillion near the hotel they are both residing in. The scene is very flirtatious and was considered, in that time, to be very scandalous. Winterbourne, entranced by Daisy and the very scandal of their relationship, still goes through with the date, and as [he] looked at [Daisys] dress and, on the great staircase, her little rapid, confiding step, he felt as if there was something romantic going forward (James 27). However, their relationship is very short-lived, as Winterbourne returns to Geneva the day after his outing with Daisy, much to her displeasure. In the third section, Winterbourne and Daisy meet again in January in Rome. However, Daisy has met another suitor, the Italian Giovanelli. Similar to the cold weather in Rome, Daisy and Winterbourne have a cold and distant relationship throughout the two latter sections. The society in Rome has also grown to be very judgmental and harsh regarding Daisys actions: her frequent outings with Mr. Giovanelli and Winterbourne, her trips to the coliseum by midnight, and other scandalous affairs. Likewise, Winterbourne discovers that Daisy is not as innocent as she seems, and, although he still has feelings for her, becomes very unsympathetic towards Daisy. Similar to a flower smothered by winter frost, Daisy and Winterbournes relationship slowly begins to go downhill and turn into a conflict between conformity and rebellion against implied societal standards. Winterbourne even begins to question whether he truly knows Daisy for what she is or if her act of falling for Mr. Giovanelli is just a faade to make Winterbourne give her more

Frymire attention: [Winterbourne] asked himself whether Daisys defiance came from the consciousness of innocence or rom her being, essentially, a young person of the reckless class. It must be admitted that holding oneself to a belief in Daisys innocence came to seem to Winterbourne more and more a matter of fine-spun gallantry (James 56). As though reflecting the frigid air of the seasons as well as the icy relationship between her and Winterbourne, Daisy succumbs to Roman fever (malaria) after visiting The Palace of the Caesars with her new cavalier Giovanelli. Winterbourne scolds Giovanelli for taking Daisy to such a disease-ridden place and subsequently blames him for her death. Daisys funeral occurs in early April, when flowers have just began to sprout up out of the ground, and, like the rebirth that spring represents, Winterbourne is renewed with the experience that his affairs with Miss Miller have granted him. He proclaims that his aunt was correct, and he was bound to make some mistake when it came to Daisy. Like a tree that has made it through a cold winter, although scarred by frost and tragedy, Winterbourne is renewed and finds new perspective at the closing of the novella. The seasons, both winter and summer, as well as spring, form the structure of the relationships, tones, and settings throughout the novella. Furthermore, the characters actions and emotions reflect the current season, with Winterbourne and Daisys romance occurring in summer, Daisys death occurring in winter, and Winterbournes renewal occurring in springtime. Similar to the growth of flowers throughout the months, Winterbourne and Daisys relationship is affected by the changing seasons, as seen by the events that occur within each section of the novella. Winter is seen with tragedy and death through the eyes of the author and thus Daisys demise occurs in this chapter. In summer, the scandal that Winterbourne and Daisy start creates an air of youth, rebellion, and freedom in the two sections. Through the opinions and

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perspectives of Henry James, the motifs of the seasons greatly affects to mood, tone, plot, and characters of Daisy Miller.

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Creative Option The Princess of Gold At the strike of eleven, a princess, late, Hurries in with suitor through miladys front gate. Rumors about this royal have spread with haste, Once she loses her title-less gentleman, her reputation will waste.

Alas, society has abandoned our princess of gold, Flirtatious and rude, her faade has grown rather old. We are tired her antics, of disobedience and play, However, the great Mrs. Walker shall scold her today,

But I have heard the princess did not have open ears, As she skipped off with two men, without any fears, The first a low man, of Rome, where we are, The next a fine count, too stiff to stay in her arms.

How can a girl sacrifice so much to her men, When the whole society knows where shes been? For her reputation, she has not one care, As long as a man or two is always there.

Despite her wealth and fame, Her actions leave her to oblivious shame.

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She believes to be among the upper class, With hair of silk and skin of glass.

Lately, she does simply what she wants, Much to dismay of a certain counts aunt. Speaking of so, this count has found, This princess is not innocent, as she did once sound.

By the wanderings of a lady and her gentleman, The wintry count is unlike he was when he began, His affairs with a flirtatious noble. If only we knew how she was ennobled,

We, as society, might believe she was, Not just a silly girl making a fuss, Of a temporary romance and passion, With a man who only attribute is high fashion.

As I see, a girl must be punished for such a crime, Denying societal standards for the longest time. And yet, more rumors have spread, That our princess of gold is at last dead.

After abloom with love in going round, With her lowly suitor, free and unbound,

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The unaware pariah caught the fever, While her man took her out, simply to please her.

Convinced by the princesss repulsive life style, Her cavalier took her to a disease-ridden isle. The Palace of the Caesars caused her to wither, Among great emperors and kings, her life did hinder.

Life absorbed by the statues in winter and cold, A lady and man decided to be so bold, To go out past dark and night, Where Roman fever became this flowers plight.

She had what was coming to her, the princess of gold, At last wilting after her antics grew old. Death came in the form of societys revenge, And not a single lord or lady did cringe,

When word of the funeral came by, It was like a new light appeared in the sky. Sure enough, the icy count and low gentleman are gone, Shooed by the scandal that the princess brought on.

Did she have what was coming for her? Alas, this flower was doomed to err,

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In her disobedient and reckless manners and ways, And rumors have stopped and things are as usual today.

This weed of scandal and gossip has at last died off, By the power of frost and, essentially, the powers from above.