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Stephanie Pham

Mrs. Angus

AP Literature

Period 3

18 March 2018

Daisy Miller 3rd Quarter

In Henry James’s Daisy Miller, the differences between the American and European

culture is highlighted through the main characters. The novel was written in the nineteenth

century while Europe was in the Victorian era and the United States was slowly flourishing in its

newfound independence. Although both Winterbourne and Daisy were born in America,

Winterbourne’​s embracement of European ideals and mannerisms are contradicted by Daisy's

carefree personality, her nature which simultaneously intrigues yet repels Winterbourne from

admitting that he loves her.​ In comparing the Old World and the New World, Henry James

accentuates how closed minded the Europeans are but also how naive and ignorant the

Americans can be.

The European culture has taught Winterbourne to behave in a socially acceptable way,

the lesson which he had taken to heart. He has become very accustomed to European ways that

he doesn’t approve of Daisy openly flirting with other men which is reprehensible to the

Europeans as well as looked down upon. Because Daisy is despised by all the high-class

Europeans, most notably his aunt, Winterbourne is impelled to hold back his feelings and

reexamine if he really loves Daisy. He realizes that ​“He had lived at Geneva so long that he had

lost a good deal; he had become dishabituated to the American tone” (James 14).​ Another
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example of European ideals is seen in Mrs.Costello, who is a wealthy American expatriate but

filled with European prestige. She immediately dislikes the Millers because they are of “New

Money”, meaning that they earned their money rather than inheriting it. She also views them as

unsophisticated in the way they behave socially and how close they are to their courier. Her

dislike for the Millers reflects traditional European beliefs and mannerisms since she believes

that people should control themselves and behave respectfully in the public eye. She is an

example of condescending Europeans who regard Americans like the Millers with disdain solely

for their simplicity and carefree way of life. Her disapproval in Daisy, in particular, is one of the

main factors as to why Winterbourne never admits his feelings for Daisy.

Randolph Miller is the epitome of the stereotyped American child, he says whatever

comes to his mind and does anything as he please. When the audience first meets Randolph,

James shows him poking his alpenstock into anything and anyone he sees. Unlike the

well-behaved Polish boys who have caretakers with them everywhere they go, Randolph roams

around freely which shows the American independence. He can shamelessly start up a

conversation with strangers and introduce himself,which is against the European belief that

children should only be seen but never heard. He also symbolizes American pride and patriotism

in the way that he extols everything American made, from candies, men to even the moon. He

also states how he cannot wait to go back home to America. All of these go back to show how

Americans believe that everything they have is far superior and newer than the traditional

Europeans.
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Daisy also represents an innocent America and the readers can see throughout the short

story that she tries to conserve it by withstanding the disapproval coming from the European

natives. She refuses to conform to the European social demands which causes people to gossip

and criticise her. Even her nickname Daisy will hint towards that readers that she is innocent and

fresh like the spring. Daisy’s personality is what prevents Winterbourne front admitting his

feelings. Daisy is very independent and high spirited and she flirts rather shamelessly. However,

she lacks traits that the Europeans idealize such as charm and wit as she proves to be very

ignorant and unsophisticated. She is not demure but rather spontaneous in her actions. Daisy

prefers to do what she wants to instead of what others think is right, the mentality which reflects

the American view of freedom and independence. This can be seen when she speaks to Eugenio,

the Miller’s courier, as an equal, which comes as a surprise to Winterbourne and disapproved by

Mrs. Costello. There is a sense of sincerity in both Randolph and Daisy’s actions as they choose

to say things without a second thought and act impulsively. Daisy displays the American way of

thinking as she is open to new experiences and opportunities without hesitation and minding

what others might think of her. Winterbourne also remarks about how chatty she is unlike the

reserved European girls.

In conclusion, all of the characters are influenced by the culture that they grew up in. The

European lifestyle forces its citizens to conform to its traditional strict social rules, whereas

Americans will either adapt to their new environments or become independent individuals in the

society. Winterbourne, although an American, assimilates to the European cultural demands,

leading him to regret doing what he truly wanted to do, which was admit his feelings for Daisy.

Daisy, on the other hand, chose to do what she wanted without a care which resembles American
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independence and free thinking. Through the story, James was trying to demonstrate the

closed-mindedness of Europeans and their aversion to new ideas while portraying the American

failure to embrace foreign traditions.