LITERARY STUDIES

Daisy Miller

This American realist novella was published in 1878. It talks about a young American girl, Daisy, who travels to Geneva with her mother and younger brother Randolph where they meet Mr Winterbourne, an American who lives with his aunt and studies in Geneva. The novella exposes part of the life of Henry James himself as an American expat. In the narration, Daisy and her family are depicted as very inappropriate individuals inside the European social environment. Daisy travels to Rome where she builds a doubtful friendship with an Italian young man, Mr Giovanelli, which triggers Mr Winterbourne's jealousy and false judgment, as well as anger and disdain by the women who compose the American circle. At the end of the novel Daisy dies of Roman fever leaving behind her judgment and stereotypes which are clarified by Mr Giovanelli.

Charatcterization

Protagonist Daisy Miller, a young beautiful American who travels to Europe. She is judged for her spontaneity and playfulness which she presents as innocence.

 Mr Winterbourne a main character, the narrator of the novella. The events are told from his perspective which takes the reader into a psychological discovery of his character. He is about 27 years old, he seems to love Daisy but is unable to resist judgment of her behavior. He realizes her innocence after her death at the end of the novel.

Mrs Castello, Mrs Walker American Europeanized women who live in Europe. They represent the social environment that judges Daisy and despises her for her spontaneous behaviours. Along with social norms and conventions they can be considered the protagonists of the novella.

Mr Giovanelli, main character, he becomes a close friend to Daisy. They spend a lot of time together especially late night at the colosseum and the park, reason for which she gets a very bad reputation. She catches Malaria at the colosseum. R Giovanelli is blamed by Mr Winterbourne for not taking care of Daisy and putting her life into danger.

Themes

The International theme is the main theme in the novella, it highlights the cultural differences between the two contexts and the tension they may create.

American innocence Vs European experience and maturity in the novella American innocence is represented in Daisy's spontaneous behaviours and thoughts while European aturity is represented in he social conventions of the oder women and their harsh judgment.

Newly-rich/upstart Vs old fortune One of the reasons Daisy and her family are despised in the novel is their financial belonging. While her family is considered the newly rich, the older women in the novella belong to the old fortune, who consider themselves purer and more valuabe in blood and in social ranking. This opposition creates a tension that is similar of class differences and inequalities.  This theme also covers the theme of simplicity Vs sophistication as well as egalitarianism Vs social rank which are represented in the different characters of the novella.(From the courses of Dr Souad Baghli-Berbar)

Symbolism

From the course of Dr Souad Baghli-Berbar " Literary Analysis of Henry James' "Daisy Miller"

Characters’ names are symbolic of their personality, settings are also symbolic of the author’s themes. In addition, James suffuses the novella with symbolic hints: “pretty novel of Cherbuliex’s — Paule Méré” requested by Mrs Costello from her nephew is a parallel to Daisy’s story. Published in 1865, its heroine Paule is innocent but her reputation is destroyed by the gossiping Genevan society. The hero loves her and tries to ignore the gossip but it finally ruins their relationship. At the Doria palace gallery, Winterbourne’s friend talked about “the superb portrait of Innocent X by Valazquiez” and mentions another “picture”, that of Daisy and Giovanelli in a corner, symbolically associating innocence with their behaviour.