Daisy Miller

From the very beginning of Daisy Miller we as readers are informed that Daisy is a flirtatious American girl that does not live up to the standards of the European high society. For example, young women were not to talk to young men without a prior introduction from a mutual friend. These concepts are foreign to this young girl from New York. She is seen through the eyes of Winterbourne, our other main character, as innocent and unrefined. Regardless, she captures the attention of Winterbourne, who is drawn to her liveliness and “freshness”. Although Winterbourne is fascinated by Miss Daisy Miller he becomes torn because he is likewise engulfed by the ideals of European society. He is also warned by his aunt not to fool with “little American girls that are uncultivated.” She also advises Winterbourne that he has lived too long out of the country and warns, “You will be sure to make some great mistake.”
Winterbourne continuously shows affection for Daisy but eventually rejects her. Daisy did not comprehend the perversion of her existence in this society. While reading this story, death becomes inevitable for the young American girl. She did not fit into the corrupt society that mistook her innocence for that of someone who was indecent. After her death the reader becomes aware that Winterbourne feels guilty when he says to his aunt, “You were right in the remark you made last summer. I was booked to make a mistake. I’ve lived too long in foreign parts.” He regrets rejecting Daisy. He similarly recognizes the corruption that the European society imposed, not only to the American girl Daisy Miller, but also unto him. This is implied in the last few lines of this story, “Nevertheless he soon went back to live at Geneva...” I feel he did this to return back to normal life, a life that he knew before Daisy. She brought out the life in him hidden within the confinements of the European society, and maybe when she died, the life she inspired went with her.