“Daisy Miller: A Study,” is a novel by Henry James, a renowned writer of 19^th-century realism. The cultural background of Henry James revolved around the two worlds referred to as the old world and the New World. From when he was a small boy, this author had the opportunity of experiencing life in both the USA and Europe. His works are highly characterized by the changes that were taking place at the time, especially the non-conformity in social-cultural values between the two worlds. His Novel “Daisy Miller: A Study,” (James, 2012). The concerns of his work reveal a youthful US that is in conflict with an old-fashioned, alluring traditional culture of the Europeans at the time. Through the use of multi-dimensional characters, as evident in ‘Daisy Miller: A Study,” Henry James has succeeded in bringing out true realism, just like other writers of realism, and has clearly depicted how the new world clashed with the old.

Henry Jame’s works, especially the one in the current discussion, “Daisy Miller: A Study,” reveal themes that surround the conflicts between a world that has accepted cultural change, and old world that persists on the preservation of their culture. In “Daisy Miller: A Study,” Henry James has portrayed realism and non-conformity through the relationships between Daisy and Winterbourne, coupled with the reactions of the conservative Aunt, Mrs. Costello (James, 2012). Perception, pre-judgement and prejudice have been used to portray the social differences between the two worlds, a feature that has enabled the author to achieve his themes in realism.

The issues of themes of women of the 19^th century are well brought out in the novel. The author has succeeded in doing this by using two sets of characters that are completely contrasting. The conservative character of Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Walker are completely contrary to the perceptions and behaviors of Daisy Miller, and her mother Mrs. Miller. While Daisy Miller sees nothing wrong with her behavior, Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Walker see her behavior as being misplaced in their society. She scolds: “And does not your daughter intend to favor us with her society?” (James 2012, P. 30). On her part, Mrs. Miller does not see anything wrong with her daughter’s behavior.

The perception with which the two conservative women in the novel view Daisy Miller is very paramount in understanding the place of women of the 19^th century. Both Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Walker regard Daisy as stupid, because, in the 19^th century, women were not supposed to behave as she behaved. They were not supposed to look as ‘sexy’ as she looked, and were not supposed to be attention grabbers as she did. Similarly, her behavior of being easy going with any man who came around contrasted the behavior of the 19^th-century woman. Her moving out at night is considered flirtatious, a character that was out of place with the 19^th-century woman. It is also evidently clear that the 19^th-century woman was required completely to adhere to the set traditions. For example, Mrs. Walker demands that Daisy conforms to their culture. On the other hand, Daisy and her mother, Mrs. Miller, represented resistant women in the 19^th century. While Daisy had an extremely odd behavior at the time, Mrs Miller does not see anything wrong with her behavior (James, 2012). Such contrast in characterization has enabled the author to bring out the different faces of the 19^th-century women. In this, one represents an old culture, while the other set represents the changing culture; a new world.

References

James, H. (2012). Daisy Miller. New York, NY: Courier Dover Publications.