"Daisy Miller" and Controversy

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how in 1878, Henry James' "Daisy Miller" came under-fire by critics in America who felt insulted that they should be portrayed to the world by anything less than gentlemen and ladies. It looks at how the book is about Daisy Miller, a young American girl in Europe who innocently breaks social codes and puts herself, her family and Americans in general, up to ridicule. It examines how James had attempted to showcase traditional conventions as being outdated and how in his portrayal of Daisy as spontaneous and ignorant of social codes and traditions, he was merely expanding on his trademark theme and bringing these comments into the spotlight.

From the Paper:

"James' portrayal of Daisy's mother and family may be seen as the typical "dysfunctional" family today, yet in 1878, this portrayal was viewed as embarrassing for American women and families.
Daisy's mother, Mrs. Miller, does little to curb her children while they are in Europe, and though this might not have been typical of American parents, it did little to improve the perspectives of European readers on their American counterparts. It is a portrayal that is often stereotyped in Europe today, the uncouth, impolite American tourist, and James' depiction of Daisy must have angered many people during a time when social civility and etiquette were an important aspect of daily life and ritual."

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