Life can not be lived on love alone. As for the title story of the collection, it might seem as if living in a castle would be the ultimate goal for Daisy Miller too.
Nor is she a great romantic like Mme de Mauves. The idea that all the prose was in America and all the poetry in Europe, is something HJ returns to again and again in these stories. There is always the implication that they would actually prefer to be in the familiar watering places of Newport or Saratoga instead of in a Swiss resort where they might have to put up with neat German waiters, who look like secretaries of legation; Russian princesses sitting in gardens; little Polish boys with their governors; a view of the snowy crest of the Dent du Midi, and the picturesque towers of the Castle de Chillon.
When Daisy Miller takes a boat trip across the lake to Chillon Castle, Mr Winterbourne, who accompanies her Daisy describes him as 'quaint' , is afraid that she will talk loud, laugh overmuch, and even perhaps desire to move about the boat a good deal and the reader almost forgets that Mr Winterbourne is himself an American.
We had heard so much about it; I suppose we had heard too much. We have seen places that I should put a long way before Rome There's Zurich. I think Zurich is lovely; and we hadn't heard half so much about it. M de Mauves, on his brief trip across the ocean, is unable to view the great American experiment in democratic self-government in a serious light. He smiled at everything, and seemed to regard the New World as a colossal 'plaisanterie' Lord Lambeth too, in 'An International Episode', has difficulty understanding American life in general, and in particular the notion that there is no leisure class; that the exceedingly wealthy Mr Westlake spends long hours in his New York office is incomprehensible to Lambeth.
However, in almost the same breath, Lambeth resents the fact that Mr Westlake thinks English people of his own class do no work at all. Yet when asked by Bessie Alden if he ever 'speaks' in the 'House', he admits to hardly ever attending, and preferring in any case to spend his time 'speaking' to pretty women. Similarly to Daisy Miller, Lord Lambeth has a frivolous side which he favours, but both characters are more complex than they seem, and beautifully paradoxical in their behavior and thinking.
Though they belong in different stories and in different milieux , Henry James describes them in a similar way, focusing on the perfection of their profiles and giving the impression that their physical beauty goes hand in hand with a superficiality of character.
But at the same time, he allows them both to surprise us every now and then with an unexpected acuity. Even while she appears to be absently arranging her ribbons or adjusting the fall of a flounce, Daisy will suddenly make us sit up and take notice, 'I don't like the way you say that It's too imperious I have never allowed a gentleman to dictate to me, or interfere with anything I do'.
And poor 'quaint' Winterbourne, who had simply suggested that it might not be a good idea to wander alone in Rome in the evening, retreats in disarray. All of HJ's American heroines show variations of this independence of mind which stands in contrast to European attitudes. Miss Evans, in 'Travelling Companions', reminds the narrator that in America, daughters insist quite as much as fathers, and she points to the lack of logic surrounding the rules laid down for women in European society; to go about alone is considered wrong but to request a male friend to accompany her is also wrong.
How then is she to visit all the places she longs to see? This difference in outlook is summed up neatly by American Mrs Westlake who claims that there is no such thing as a 'fast girl' in America; that it must be a European invention. Daisy Miller gets labeled a 'fast girl' while in Europe, and the irony is that it is mainly ex-patriot Americans who consider her so; the Italians are less censorious—they simply label Daisy 'American'.
HJ often points to such inconsistencies in people's thinking. Mme de Mauve's mother, for example, a 'gay divorcee' who had been a very good-natured censor on her own account, felt a genuine spiritual need to sacrifice her daughter to propriety.
Mrs Cleve belonged to that large class of Americans who make light of their native land in familiar discourse, but are startled back into a sense of moral responsibility when they find Europeans taking them at their word.
HJ seems to imply that there is a happy lack of such 'Christian' hypocrisies in the more 'pagan' French. M de Mauves's sister can't begin to understand the puritanical nature of her American sister-in-law who feels aggrieved at her husband for having a mistress: There has never been a De Mauves who has not given his wife the right to be jealous.
Our men are real Frenchmen, and their wives—I may say—have been worthy of them. You may see all their portraits in our house in Auvergne; every one of them an "injured" beauty, but not one of them hanging her head.
Not one of them had the bad taste to be jealous. She insists on calling her husband to account in a way his ancestors had never been—even by their mistresses. It's a very fine story, by the way, with a most unexpected twist. In fact, the seven stories in this collection are all very fine, and they all contain twists, but none with a twist quite as perfect as the story which is simply entitled 'Europe'.
I haven't mentioned it so far, yet it encapsulates the main themes of the collection perfectly. In the table of contents, it is the only story title with quotation marks, which suggests that it is the French word 'Europe' that is intended rather than the English.
A beautifully subtle comment on the difference in perspective depending on the direction of your gaze. View all 44 comments. Unlike most other collections of Henry James' stories and novellas, this edition and its companion collection The Aspern Papers and Other Tales in the most recent Penguin Classics series present an excellent selection of his short fiction as originally published, rather than in his later revised versions.
Since I myself prefer to follow his writing over time, it was serendipitous when I came across this collection of his earlier novellas with a couple of shorter form exceptions. And then I found out that my GR friend Fionnuala also read it and wrote such a comprehensive and brilliant review that there is no point in reiterating what she already so perceptively and eloquently wrote, here.
Bessie is my girl! And this is just touching the tip of the iceberg that HJ manages in these few short fictions… Highly recommended! View all 6 comments. This is a very well composed collection, and it would not make a bad introduction to Henry James, for anyone wanting to dip a toe in without committing to a full novel. In stylistic terms, we go from the r This is a very well composed collection, and it would not make a bad introduction to Henry James, for anyone wanting to dip a toe in without committing to a full novel.
In stylistic terms, we go from the relative crispness of the first five stories, all dating to the s, to the dense, entangled prose of the final two, dating, respectively.
It was the only one of these stories that was never published in book form after first appearing as the others did too in a magazine. This may detract somewhat from the quality of the story as fiction, but it was part of what made it so fascinating to me. I rather liked the uncharacteristically view spoiler [happy-ending hide spoiler ] narrative as well. Unusually, this story examines not merely American attitudes to Europe, but the reverse, in the form of the splendidly caricatural, Englishman-abroad figures of Lord Lambeth and Percy Beaumont, who fish up in New York City in the middle of a summer heatwave, and find themselves inadvertently caught up in a transatlantic relationship with possible matrimonial consequences.
I thought, in many ways, it was the standout of the collection. Viewed—as so many of these stories are—through the eyes of a James proxy male, sophisticated, Europhile , it tells the tale of three Bostonian spinsters attending to their ancient, sporadically infirm, widowed mother.
The three aging daughters all aspire to go to Europe, following in the footsteps of their parents, who had made the Grand Tour shortly after the post-Waterloo peace of The story examines Europe as a site of desire in a quasi-abstract, quasi-philosophical manner, using great economy of means. It is an immensely disciplined work, and, in many ways, a minor, modernist masterpiece.
View all 4 comments. Mar 28, Doris rated it it was amazing. I have read this selection of three tales of Henry James and they appealed to me no end. For these tales, Daisy Miller, An International Episode and Lady Barberina are those tales, told or taken from the notepad, or diary from an interested observer who writes as well, someone deeply concerned about human nature and loved it for all its diversity.
Daisy Miller, An International Episode and Lady Barberina are just those tales that a travelling man and a writer as as well as fine observer of human nature is eager to find in his cosmopolitan path. He takes as principal object of his study young, attractive, striking, handsome, adamant and supple, hard and vulnerable creature a girl of 17, 19, and 18 or thereabouts.
Because it is the age of expectation, of ignorance, of capacity to look around and searching not exactly not knowing what , only pursuing their dream or intuition or difference to their very self. In other words it is " les jeunes filles en fleurs " that are the subject of these tales, those that their fellows or companions are agog to notice and remark on gaily or reproachfully their conduct, or at sea.
Why is it so? Because these young ladies have a potentiality of their own secret stories. They are fresh and innocent but their innocence is titillating, bursting in its edges, it is here one moment, gone in another. They are seductresses, or only the girls who want to know themselves. Shallow and deep at the same time.
They are like princesses dancing on the night m bringing with them their torn dancing shoes, devils and fairies who long to be comprehended and saved for themselves or if not they will disappear, "telle Albertine disparue", or die.
They play with fire for joy and first emotion, they experience the novelty with gusto and happiness to move the world like their own world. These are the tales about society and their values with the observant and intelligent man who notices the change for they are about to change themselves and the world in their entourage.
This , they are vaguely conscious of, they are going as in a dream to their destiny. Daisy goes really to her destiny , misunderstood , by her "amoureux" , man of Geneva attitudes, braving her destiny Daisy had gone to the very precarious , endangering lethally her young life.
In an International episode a noble Englishman Lord Lambeth and his friend Percy Beamont are confronted to the liberty of American New York life and fascinating free and lovely Miss Alden, sister of their hosts.
In doing so she rejoins all the lovely, young brilliant, curious and intelligent girls from literature, Adelam Lucy ; Lydia, Marianne, who act on their own. She is the princess, eager to break the line go on unhindered. Lady Barb is the image of the old, the stiff upper lip type, understatement type, deficient to go on in this modern world. And James Lemon , her disgustingly rich husband is in the opposite pole from her but on the same level, only fishing for the right social image in the other prolongation of their superficial self whereas Agatha's aspirant and husband , Herman Longstraw is a man of future, an all America, a a new prince capable of charming enthralling and in doing so enriching spiritually his chosen one who has eyes to see the difference and value.
Fairy tales of the modern world, they are spiritually rich in observations and deep in connotations "Le bonheut se saisit au vol malgre le diable" She is confident and carefree, and enjoys the company of men, which causes her to become the topic of speculation, as it is not proper for a young woman to behave in such a way. One of her friendships is with Mr.
Winterbourne, an American gentleman. Told from Winterbourne's point of view, this short story was an interesting look into European society in the s. What was normal and socially acceptable in America was not the same in Europe. While others thought Daisy to be improper, really, she was an innocent and naive young woman. A short story that explores the differences between Europe, specifically Germany, and America. The group of people aboard includes Grace, Mrs. Nettlepoint, and Jasper, Mrs.
Nettlepoint's son. Grace is traveling to Europe to meet her fiance, who she hasn't seen in years and isn't happy about marrying. While aboard the ship, she begins a friendship with Jasper, which ends tragically. This short story is told from the perspective of a gentleman friend of Mrs. An interesting commentary on society in the s. The first time was when she was a young woman in America, the second and third times take place in Europe, and the last time was back in America.
The unnamed man narrates the story. The narrator, while a part of her life because he knows her, is an outsider and relays her story without ever offering any help or guidance. Henry James has this flowery, lyrical prose that calls to me.
This collection of seven short stories dives further into the society and social contrasts between Americans and Europeans. Travelling Companions is a travel and art guide throughout Rome, Venice, and other sections of Italy that bring vivid artwork, gothic architecture, and beautiful scenery from Monte Henry James has this flowery, lyrical prose that calls to me. This story gets a 4 star rating. Madame de Mauves is a stern hearted, obstinate and filled with such fidelity that she never strays far from this temperament and expectations of herself.
Euphemia also is very forward in her renunciation of affection and coquetry and turns to associating herself with novels and furthers herself from past romantic notions.
Daisy Miller represents simplicity and positive vibes when being surrounded by them. Similarly with our character Daisy who dons the nickname allows our hero Mr Winterbourne to feel light, positive and cheerful in her presence that in the beginning confused him. Further symbolism behind daisies are purity, innocence, new beginnings, transformation, and cheerfulness.
She provides and opens herself not only to new beginnings, transformations, and experiences, but also awakens Mr Winterbourne to them. He displays childish glee in discovering the city through her eyes and in what she wishes to see and how. She contains the purity in her actions and flirtatious behaviour and many instead view her as compromising herself and those that associate themselves with her.
This short story gets a 4 stars. An International Episode further delves into societal constraints and cultural differences between Europe and America. Mrs Rimmel appears to me as a paralleled Ms Havisham with the main antithesis of style and physical appearance. Fordham Castle allows the lucid transformation from obscure opacity into vivid transparent fictionalized death of ones disposition.
It reads like the shedding of a snake ridding itself of its previous skin and reappearing with the same look; however, a new nature is inspired within the character. This story gets a 3. Death is a metaphor in allowing oneself to start anew and not feel morally wrong in their actions but rather that their choice is done with understanding and deviating from further ties and confusion. What is book does really well in the three short stories contained in it is compare the upper echelons of British and European society with American society in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
The title story which is seen from the viewpoint of an admirer, I found quite engaging and actually found myself feeling the pangs of jealousy that the admirer experiences. The first tale has Switzerland and Italy as the backdrops. The tale unfolds gently with a twist at the end that the reader What is book does really well in the three short stories contained in it is compare the upper echelons of British and European society with American society in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
The tale unfolds gently with a twist at the end that the reader must experience for himself or herself, it contrasted with the other two tales, which end more gently.
Summary Read our full plot summary and analysis of Daisy Miller , scene by scene break-downs, and more. Characters See a complete list of the characters in Daisy Miller and in-depth analyses of Daisy Miller and Winterbourne. Character List Daisy Miller Winterbourne. Literary Devices Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in Daisy Miller , from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more. Themes Motifs Symbols. Quotes Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes.
Important Quotes Explained. A vivid portrayal of Americans abroad and a telling encounter between the values of the Old and New World, Daisy Miller is an ideal introduction to the work of one of America's greatest writers of fiction.
Daisy Miller By: Henry James. Book Reg. Product Description Product Details Daisy Miller is a fascinating portrait of a young woman from Schenectady, New York, who, traveling in Europe, runs afoul of the socially pretentious American expatriate community in Rome. Reprint of a standard edition.
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