Daisy Miller
Daisy Miller shows the various tensions between Europe and America. Daisy Miller starts out in a hotel in Vevey, Switzerland when a gentleman named Winterbourne meets Daisy, a young, beautiful American girl traveling through Europe. Daisy and her mother, Mrs. Miller, are traveling all over Europe while her father is home in Schenectady, New York working. While Daisy is in Europe she does not accept European ideas to be her own, unlike many Americans living abroad, which are referred to as "Europeanized Americans". Winterbourne, to the contrary, has been living in Europe since he left America when he was younger. Winterbourne takes a strong liking to Daisy even though his aunt, Mrs. Costello does not approve of him even speaking to Daisy because she is not of a high enough rank for Winterbourne to even socialize with. Winterbourne and Daisy spend much time together, and even had a date at a close by castle named Chillon. Winterbourne then returns to Geneva to meet another woman, but agrees to meet-up with Daisy again in the winter. When winter comes around Winterbourne goes to Rome and finds out Daisy has been with a lot of Italian men of no important rank. While Winterbourne was away Daisy met one suitor, Mr. Giovanell
Throughout the story Daisy's attitudes, actions, and behaviors were different than those of the Europeans or "Europeanized Americans." My personal favorite part of the story was this quote, "He said to himself that she was too light and childish, too uncultivated and unreasoning, too provincial, to have reflected upon the ostracism or even to have perceived it" (43). This shows that Daisy's attitudes were frowned upon by the European culture and European Americans, such as Winterbourne. The European culture values grace and refinement in daily activities. Any American who did become "Europeanized" could not meet this standard, thus being looked down upon by the Europeans and even Europeanized Americans living abroad. i. It is pointed out that Daisy may even have fallen in love with Giovanelli. Daisy then walks outside with Winterbourne and Giovanelli against the wishes of Mrs. Walker. Later, when Mrs. Walker then throws a party, Daisy arrives with Giovanelli. Mrs. Walker takes this as an insult and makes the decision to stop speaking to Daisy. Daisy is not happy about Mrs. Walker snubbing her, but still continues to be with Giovanelli. Daisy continues to be with Giovanelli even while Winterbourne is visiting. Winterbourne inquires as to whether or not Daisy is engaged to Giovanelli which she doesn't answer right away, however it is found out later she was never engaged to Giovanelli. Many other customs differences between Americans and Europeans are exemplified throughout the story. When Winterbourne says, "If you eat three lumps of sugar your mother will certainly slap you" (7). This shows that Europeans enjoy refinement in one's actions, whereas Daisy and Americans belie
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1150
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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