ID#2385 E6XN

When an author writes a book, he usually has a certain idea that he wishes to convey to us. He uses certain details, and messages which are supposed to efficiently get his point across. In Daisy Miller, by Henry James, James tries to tell us you can't always judge a person by the way that they seem to be.

Annie Miller, better known as "Daisy" Miller, is a young girl staying in Europe with her mother (we only know of her as 'Mrs. Miller'), and her little brother Randolph, who is extremely intelligent at the young age of nine. The Miller family also had a courier with them, Eugenio. At the beginning of the novel, James presents a main character, Fredrick Winterbourne, an American living in Europe, conversating with little Randolph; a few minutes later, Daisy arrives to retrieve her brother, and that is where she meets Winterbourne, who has and immediate fascination with her.

James expresses to us the difference between what appears to be true, and what things actually are. To the Europeans who meet Daisy, she is a disgrace to all women. She travels all over town, all hours of the night, with new, strange men, unaccompanied. Daisy openly portrays her affection toward a man who she is obviously crazy for, Mr. Giovanelli. The instant that she meets Winterbourne, she agrees to a night out with him. She doesn't know a thing about him, but just wants to have some fun, as normal people do. Throughout the story, she meets all kinds of men, and prances around in the open for all to see and talk about.

When Winterbourne met Daisy, and wanted to intoduce her to his aunt, Mrs. Costello, she asked many questions about this new strange American girl. About the Miller family, Mrs. Costello states, "They are very common". She has heard many negative things about the mannerisms of the Miller family, especially Daisy. What is accepted and brushed aside in the American traditions is not allowed and is considered a disgrace in European traditions.

At many times, Daisy is questioned on why she does these things with men. People around her tell her that she is making a fool out of herself. Basically, they tell her she is making herself out to be a 'slut'. Daisy can not see this. She simply wants to live life to the fullest; explore what's around her. She is very ignorant to the European social standards, and is very comfortable with her American ways. Daisy, in many ways, is very innocent and oblivious to the rules of society. The things that she says and does have nothing to do with her level of purity.

James shows us that you can not judge a person just by what you think they may be doing. Daisy was a woman of little intelligence, but a lot of character, and let herself live without being criticized. She may have not acted as a lady was expected to act, but she was a sweet person with a nice heart, and proved everyone wrong. When she died Winterbourne spoke to Giovanelli, and Giovanelli spoke of her innocence, and Winterbourne could not believe what he was hearing. She never really pursued these men, she just like having a lot of friends, that's all.