A Wild Daisy: Daisy Miller by Henry James

One critic once described Henry James’ short story, Daisy Miller: A Study as “an outrage to American girlhood”. His protagonist, a girl from a recently well-off family, flouts the accepted roles of the time for a young lady. Daisy Miller acts as a social chameleon and natural flirt, seeking out the attentions of gentlemen wherever she travels. In Winterbourne, however, she has found a gentleman for whom she has special interest and to whom she desperately wants to convey her true feelings. Unable to communicate her feelings, Daisy resorts to her standard technique of playing childish games in a futile attempt to win affection.

Near the end of the story comes the first real indication that Daisy holds Winterbourne in esteem. When Winterbourne visits Daisy at her hotel in Rome, she is entertaining Giovanelli and, although her attentions are focused on the Italian, Winterbourne notes that “if she was seriously interested in Giovanelli it was very singular that she should not take more trouble to preserve the sanctity of their interviews”. Shortly before Daisy’s death, Winterbourne speaks to Mrs. Miller who tells him that Daisy specifically asked her to tell Winterbourne that she never was engaged to Giovanelli: “she said to me three times – ‘mind you tell Mr. Winterbourne’”. Only after Daisy’s death does Winterbourne come to the realization that Daisy especially liked him. Talking later to Mrs. Costello, Winterbourne said that “She sent me a message before her death which I didn’t understand at the time. But I have understood it since. She would have appreciated one’s esteem”.

Although Daisy thinks more of Winterbourne than she does of her average gentleman friend, her methods of winning his affection are just immature attempts to create jealousy or elicit expressions of devotion from him. By exalting herself while in conversation with Winterbourne, Daisy endeavors to get him thinking of her favorably. On their very first meeting in Vevey, Daisy makes special effort to tell him about all the dinners she had been to with gentlemen during the last winter. She also mentions how many friends she has in New York, as well as “a great deal of gentlemen’s society”. Similarly, during their trip to the castle at Chillon, Daisy asks Winterbourne questions about himself, leading the conversation in such a way that she can answer those same questions about herself. Winterbourne notices that “ Of her own tastes, habits, and intentions Miss Miller was prepared to give the most favourable, account”.

Another of Daisy’s schemes is to attempt to get Winterbourne to express his affection for her first. Although he is constantly attentive to her, Daisy is not happy unless he gives a more tangible sign of devotion. During one of their early meetings in Vevey, Daisy asks Winterbourne if he would like to take her out in a boat. When he obligingly offers to do so, she enjoys the formal attention more than the thought of actually going on the boat ride. Rather than taking him up on the offer, she only “stood there laughing”. Indeed, Daisy even admits, “That’s all I want – a little fuss!” Her childish game continues as she tells Winterbourne, “I hope you are disappointed, or disgusted, or something!” A little later, Daisy is expressing disdain that Winterbourne must go back to Geneva because she does not want him to desert her. Even though they have only just met, Daisy is trying to get a concession from him and, facing difficulty, resorts to another cruel game. After perpetually calling him “horrid”, she suggests that the reason he will return to Geneva is because he has a lady friend there. Insisting this is the case, it seems that she will only back down if Winterbourne were to give assurance that only she can command his affection. This little game only manages to get the promise that Winterbourne will visit her in Rome. Daisy, however, is still not happy when she realizes that Winterbourne will be in Rome anyway; Daisy wants Winterbourne to make a special trip to visit only her.

Another major aspect of Daisy’s machinations is her intention to make Winterbourne jealous. Winterbourne is immediately attracted to Daisy, so her attempts are initially successful. However, Daisy seems to think that the more jealous she makes Winterbourne, the more he will like her and the more likely he is to express his devotion to her. For this reason, she does not stop her little games throughout the story and Winterbourne is perplexed at her actions. In an effort to raise Winterbourne’s jealousy to new heights, and in a very provocative manner, Daisy admits that she has planned a walk with Giovanelli:

She stood there smiling and smoothing her bonnet ribbons; she glanced at Winterbourne. Then, while she glanced and smiled, she answered without a shade of hesitation, ‘Mr. Giovanelli – the beautiful Giovanelli.

Not content with this she even suggests that Winterbourne should “offer to walk” with her to meet her friend. Another clue to Daisy’s scheme occurs when she turns up late to Mrs. Walker’s party on the arm of Giovanelli. Although this is an obvious attempt to attract attention and evoke a response from Winterbourne, this time his response proves to be unfavorable and results in their bickering. Winterbourne’s ultimate response, suggesting that she is in love with Giovanelli, effectively calls her bluff, shocks her and causes her to slink away for the rest of the evening. Furthermore, despite a last desperate attempt to invoke jealousy in asking if Winterbourne thought she was engaged, Daisy ends up saddened by his indifference.

On the surface a very happy and carefree young lady, Daisy Miller actually proves to be a sad character who only manages to use and exploit peoples’ emotions to attain her desires. Although infatuated in the beginning, Winterbourne’s graceful efforts to treat Daisy like a lady are unappreciated in her immature mind. Daisy’s response, constantly playing games and scheming to get the expressions of devotion she so desperately craves, only end up backfiring and leaving a wake of disrespect. Being used to flirting with men rather than nurturing healthy, platonic relationships, Daisy’s social skills only serve to frustrate and eventually alienate her potential suitor.