Analysis of Daisy Miller’s Defiance of Society Norms

Daisy Miller is the story of a coquette, who travels to Europe and meets an erudite man named Winterbourne. These two instantly became acquaintances and their relationship blossomed and unfolded all at the same time. In Daisy Miller, we follow the struggles of an American girl in a European society. Daisy Miller is a feminist role model far ahead of her time, so much that society can’t categorize her and thus, is refused by their society. 

Daisy is exceedingly different from the other women in Vevey, she continuously acted against societal norms, not allowing men to control her life. When Daisy was introducing Winterbourne to Mr. Giovanelli, a young Italian man, Winterbourne asked if Daisy intended to speak to Mr. Giovanelli. This rubbed Daisy the wrong way, and she says, “‘I have never allowed a gentleman to dictate to me, or to interfere with anything I do’” (James 36). Daisy exhibits feminist role model qualities, she believes that she doesn’t need a man to tell her what to do or say. She expressed that men can’t control anyone, which was unprecedented during this time period. Women believed that they couldn’t do anything without the say of a man. When Daisy told her mother she intended to go on a boat with Winterbourne to the Castle of Chillon, her mother confided in the courier, “‘Do tell her she can’t,’ said Mrs. Miller to the courier” (James 22). Mrs. Miller demonstrates that her male servant must be the one to tell Daisy that it is improper to do so. Daisy chose to not listen to men in society and did what she wanted, not asking for permission from anyone. 

Conversely, society depicts everyone that breaks the roles as a rebel, or improper. Daisy didn’t care for the rules that were originated for just women, she wanted to be different and show people that women can do the same activities that a man could do. Men were often seen bringing beautiful women to parties or gatherings, but when a woman did the same they were shamed or cast out of society. As Daisy begins to find companionship in a young Italian man, she is talked about immensely, “‘The young lady however, is also very intimate with some third-rate Italians, with whom she rackets about in a way that makes much talk’” (James 28). As soon as any woman is seen talking to a man, they shortly after are discussed by everyone. Daisy is viewed as improper by her actions, which nowadays would go unnoticed.

Daisy was very unaware of the European society rules, coming from America things were extremely different. In America, she often attended parties with numerous men. She had no clue that things were different in Europe and continued to act the same way. Society found this unacceptable and therefore failed to tell her the proper way. Instead, they just kicked her out when they were given the chance. Mrs. Walker, Winterbourne’s friend from Geneva, hosts a party in which Daisy shows up past eleven o’clock, which was considered very discourteous at the time. When Mrs. Walker came by the opportunity, “She turned her back straight upon Miss Miller, and left her to depart with what grace she might… Mrs. Miller was humbly unconscious of any violation of the usual social forms” (James 46). Daisy was befuddled with what had happened, completely unaware of what she had done was wrong. She was removed from society without any say or explanation and forced to figure it out on her own. Daisy, in conclusion, was just being herself and just wanted to be a part of society in which she never knew was so different from society in America. 

 Daisy was an innocent young girl, she never did anything necessarily wrong, and she only ever wished for happiness. A great deal of the book was spent trying to figure out if Daisy was innocent or not. In the end we realized that she was an acceptable girl. Due to her lack of knowledge about European society she was extremely innocent when it came to knowing the rules of a polite society. In addition to this, Daisy has never been intimate with any man during the book, which we find out when Mr. Giovanelli says, “‘She was the most beautiful young lady I ever saw, and the most amiable’; and then he added in a moment, ‘and she was the most innocent’’ (James 58). Daisy was judged by those who didn’t know where she fit in, and therefore, cast out because of it. 

Daisy Miller was a feminist exemplar surpassing her time period. Today no one would be judged for speaking with a man, it would be disregarded and forgotten about. Daisy represents a new generation of women that society hasn’t seen or heard of yet, she finds her freedom by defying the social norms in a male dominated society.