ACT

Spring l
Course: English 221 – Spring 2018
Due Date: 21/9/2018

Mecaj Klisjo

Instructor: Dr. Eleni Godi

 If Daisy is seen to represent America, what is James telling us about America?

The concept of the “American girl” fascinated 19th century writers and more specifically Henry
James who is credited by her literature. According to Cooper’s concept of woman’s nature.
Women have natural-given god given characteristics and also a god given role. Woman is
physically and mentally inferior to man and that is reflected in the hierarchical order in the
family and society as well. She must submit to male authority. However, she is morally superior
to man and more virtuous. Therefore, her duty is to moral reform man and purify society. She
must be gentle and submissive to her man too. (SCHRIBER, 1981) Although Henry satirizes
women’s movement in The Bostonians he often focuses on the way which society often shapes
the behavior of women. That can be seen in his books where his heroines plenty of times must
sacrifice something important to them because of social realities. Furthermore, the “American
girl” differs in a way is fresh, innocent and simple resembling the New World itself.
(SCHRIBER, 1981)

To begin with, Daisy Miller unware and defiant of what Rome or Americans think of her.
Should she care? Moreover, she is interested in Winterbourne but he does not manage to reach
him since he is too chilly. However the question that lies is, did she try enough? Much of the
story includes gossip, rumors and pressure exerted from the public opinion. In the end can we
understand a person who grew up in a different country with a different culture? (III, 1965) .
Through a number of different settings from the castle of Chillon to the protestant cemetery
Daisy Miller explores the options that are available to women. She “the child of freedom”
realizes how society confines women and how women accept it. In her case Winterbourne
represents the masculine world which has control over the lives of women (Barnet, 2000)  Daisy
Miller, is a charming spontaneous American girl, who ends up being the victim of the social
conventions of the new world she confronts herself with.

Daisy represents one of the new comers upon whom Europe seems to have cast a spell. She
loves Europe and she is delighted to find herself in the old world in contrast to her brother who
finds the old world far superior to the New World since he can find no candy. One of the most
important aspects of the new world is innocence. Is it possible for her to stay innocent with all
the corruption? One more different symbol and hint that Daisy is America is s her independence
and the way she tries to conserve it no matter what. She listens neither to Winterbourne nor to
Mrs. Walker, the ones attempting to make her discover the proper way to behave, until it is not
too late.”I  have never allowed a gentleman to dictate to me, or to interfere with anything I do”.
This illustrates how much she wishes to be free. (Bolea, 2010) Daisy was even accostumed to
waqlk in the streetson her own and to be looked by al sort off people.

To sum up,  Daisy Miller shows the outcome of European life on the American’s identity, and
the way in which an American, in the person of Daisy Mille could end up being a victim in a
system that she cannot comprehend the rules. The differences between the old and the new world
can lead to disaster the young inexperienced American who finds herself confronted with these
bizarre values. Nevertheless,  Henry James portrayed Daisy Miller  as an individual with strong
beliefs about freedom and strong values as well. One person who did not allow  the new society
to restrict her freedom, even if it was this attitude that leads to her death. (Bolea, 2010)

Bibliography
Barnet, L. (2000). Jamesian Feminism: Women in "Daisy Miller" - ProQuest. [online]
Search.proquest.com. Available at:
https://search.proquest.com/openview/7501f691e1e13520b1d39abec520eb80/1?pq-
origsite=gscholar&cbl=1820858 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2018].

Bolea, Ş. (2010). American innocence vs. European vice in Henry James’ Daisy Miller. [online]
www.egophobia.ro. Available at: http://egophobia.ro/?p=5302 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2018].

SCHRIBER, M. (1981). TOWARD DAISY MILLER: COOPER'S IDEA OF "THE AMERICAN GIRL".

[online] JSTOR. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/29532104?read-
now=1&googleloggedin=true&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents [Accessed 21 Sep. 2018].