Daisy Miller: Post-Civil War

The novella Daisy Miller: A Study, is an excellent example of the cultural differences and conflict between American and European culture during the post Civil War Era. The character Daisy Miller is a symbol of American culture and values, whereas Winterbourne is the symbol of European culture and values, though American himself. Daisy and Winterbourne are metaphors for not only the differences between American and European culture, but also a prime example of how Europe viewed America during this time. According to the Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia Of Literature “Daisy Miller uses the contrast between American innocence and European sophistication as a powerful tool with which to examine social conventions” (Daisy). This was apparent through

Daisy Miller and her family are what people would consider a nouveau rich, also known as new money. This was very common in America at the time, this was due to businessmen 'making it big' after the Civil War. This was symbolic of America because America was basically the national equivalent of nouveau rich during this time. America was much like the American dream itself. A brand new start full of new and amazing opportunities. During the story this is displayed multiple times, such as when Daisy speaks to Winterbourne for the first time. “And she had ever so many things from Paris…Whenever she put on a Paris dress, she felt as is she were in Europe...“'it has always made me wish I were here. But I needn't have done that for dresses. I am sure they send all the pretty ones to America'” (James 333). Daisy believes this because in her experience, the dresses they sell to America are the brightest and flamboyant. The reason this is the case is because Europe viewed America as flashy itself, and so sells America that type of wares. However, by Daisy's comment, there are no such dresses in Europe. Since she is new rich her having the newest, prettiest, and flashiest clothing was a norm in America, where there were many new rich all doing the same as her, and therefore appropriate for her culture. However, the

Throughout the story, Winterbourn's opinion of Daisy changes back and forth. Winterbourne is torn between believing that Daisy is a coquette and believing she is an innocent girl who just does not know what she is doing. He never stops to consider that she may be both. He tries to push Daisy into his own preconceived categories; he never stopped to consider that she is a complex person with many layers, and therefore cannot be placed into a singular category. According to Daisy Miller: Cowboy Feminist, “Like many of James' male characters, Winterbourne responds to Daisy's wild energy, but doesn't act decisively on his desire, alternately aroused and repulsed by the prospect” (Johnson). Winterbourn was intrigued by Daisy, and her innocence. Her character was unlike any he had experienced before and because of this he found her quite attractive. However, his upbringing did not allow for him to associate with someone of such low class. In addition to this, Embedded Narratives Of Science And Culture In James's Daisy Miller observes that,“Winterbourne, faced with a conflict of norms between those of Daisy and those of his aunt's circle, cannot help seeing this difference as one marking the difference between "progressive" and "primitive" human values” (Scheiber).This perspective is shown from the very onset of Winterbourn first meeting Daisy “'How pretty they are,' Winterbourne comments, reacting to Daisy as a category,