Daisy Miller
Alexander Jack Papetsas
AP Senior English
Assignment: James’ use of Ambiguity in Daisy Miller and theme
Ambiguity Conveys Theme in James’ Daisy Miller
In the novella, Daisy Miller by Henry James, the complexities of social conventions, gender stereotyping and conformity are exposed through the actions and words of the protagonists. Daisy Miller is the young woman who invites a multitude of speculation regarding her personality and behavior. James creates ambiguity around Daisy as an insightful glimpse into the harsh social expectations of the day. Daisy is outgoing and forthright, desires attention, and strays into an area that is considered unbecoming of a young woman traveling in Europe. Winterbourne acts a foil to Daisy’s character. His pragmatic approach to life skims the tightrope between a restricted and highly critical analysis of Daisy’s actions, and a desire to delve into her mind and world. The ring of characters that surround Winterbourne and Daisy serve to enhance James’ focus on the outdated circle of social fire which places anyone who does not conform to societal codes under a burning, magnifying glass of scrutiny. Through Daisy Miller, James uses ambiguity to delineate a multilayered personality which seeks to establish its voice amidst a sea of conjecture, criticism and conventionality. Daisy Miller cannot be pigeonholed into a specific category of mindset and she embodies the ambiguity that James desires to convey in his exposure of gender and conventional stereotyping. Men and women are obliged to live by societal rules, “…a young man was not at liberty to speak to a young unmarried lady except under certain rarely occurring conditions” (1169). When Winterbourne first encounters Daisy, he perceives her confidence and lack of embarrassment at talking to a strange man; her glance was, “…perfectly direct and unshrinking” (1170). These basic traits are what set Daisy Miller apart from her female
AP Senior English
Assignment: James’ use of Ambiguity in Daisy Miller and theme
Ambiguity Conveys Theme in James’ Daisy Miller
In the novella, Daisy Miller by Henry James, the complexities of social conventions, gender stereotyping and conformity are exposed through the actions and words of the protagonists. Daisy Miller is the young woman who invites a multitude of speculation regarding her personality and behavior. James creates ambiguity around Daisy as an insightful glimpse into the harsh social expectations of the day. Daisy is outgoing and forthright, desires attention, and strays into an area that is considered unbecoming of a young woman traveling in Europe. Winterbourne acts a foil to Daisy’s character. His pragmatic approach to life skims the tightrope between a restricted and highly critical analysis of Daisy’s actions, and a desire to delve into her mind and world. The ring of characters that surround Winterbourne and Daisy serve to enhance James’ focus on the outdated circle of social fire which places anyone who does not conform to societal codes under a burning, magnifying glass of scrutiny. Through Daisy Miller, James uses ambiguity to delineate a multilayered personality which seeks to establish its voice amidst a sea of conjecture, criticism and conventionality. Daisy Miller cannot be pigeonholed into a specific category of mindset and she embodies the ambiguity that James desires to convey in his exposure of gender and conventional stereotyping. Men and women are obliged to live by societal rules, “…a young man was not at liberty to speak to a young unmarried lady except under certain rarely occurring conditions” (1169). When Winterbourne first encounters Daisy, he perceives her confidence and lack of embarrassment at talking to a strange man; her glance was, “…perfectly direct and unshrinking” (1170). These basic traits are what set Daisy Miller apart from her female