Daisy Miller: Analysis of Major Characters
"Daisy Miller: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate dynamics of social status and cultural perceptions through its key figures. Central to the narrative is Daisy Miller, an independent American tourist whose casual disregard for societal norms, such as walking unchaperoned with an Italian suitor during the day, sets her apart from the more conservative expatriate community in Rome. Her actions lead to her social ostracism, culminating in a tragic end after a fateful visit to the Colosseum at night. Frederick Winterbourne, the story's narrator, initially grapples with his perceptions of Daisy's behavior, viewing it as immoral, only to later recognize his feelings of love for her and appreciate her embodiment of American freedom.
Giovanelli, Daisy's Italian companion, is portrayed as an opportunist who reveals the transactional nature of their relationship, acknowledging that Daisy would not have married him. Other characters, such as Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Costello, and Randolph Miller, illustrate the broader themes of societal judgment and familial influence, highlighting the tensions between American and European cultural values. The interactions and judgments among these characters reflect the complexities of social class, gender roles, and the challenges of individualism in a conformist society. This analysis offers an insightful look into how these characters navigate their identities amidst conflicting cultural expectations.
Daisy Miller: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Henry James
First published: 1878
Genre: Novella
Locale: Vevey, Switzerland, and Rome
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: Mid-nineteenth century
Daisy Miller, the charming and unconforming American tourist whose inattention to decorum (she walks unchaperoned with an Italian suitor in the daytime) results in her ostracism by the Europeanized Americans in Rome. In defiance, she visits the Colosseum at night with the same young man and later dies of a fever contracted there.
Frederick Winterbourne, an American expatriate from whose point of view the story is told. At first puzzled by Daisy, he soon becomes convinced that she is immoral. After her death, however, he realizes that he loved her, and that her manners indicated only a native American freedom.
Giovanelli, the young Italian whose companionship causes the scandal involving Daisy. An adventurer interested primarily in Daisy's money, he admits to Winterbourne after her death that she never would have consented to marry him.
Mrs. Walker, an American expatriate. Because Daisy rejects Mrs. Walker's efforts to preserve her from scandal, Mrs. Walker cuts her at a party, thus beginning Daisy's complete ostracism.
Randolph Miller, Daisy's young and spoiled brother. His impudence also shocks the American expatriates.
Mrs. Costello, Winterbourne's aunt. She refuses to meet Daisy because she is convinced that the Millers are common.
Eugenio, the Millers' courier and servant. That the Millers treat him almost as a member of the family also causes talk among the American expatriates.