Daisy Miller – A Study

Daisy Miller is a novel by Henry James, an American writer and one of the prominent figures who contributed to literary realism. Among his works, the prominent novels include The Portrait of a Lady, Roderick Hudson, and The Wings of the Dove.
Daisy Miller portrays the courtship of a American-European pair through the major characters Annie Daisy Miller and Frederick Winterbourne. Daisy’s beauty influences Frederick Winterbourne, an European while they meet at Switzerland. Randolph’s proud declaration of his home town as superior to all of Europe excites Daisy, adding fuel to her wishes of entering high society. She accepts the invitation of Frederick to visit his hometown. However Frederick’s Aunt Mrs. Costello disapproves his wish to marry Daisy, as she thinks daisy is a shameless girl who accepts to accompany a person whom she knows for just half an hour. Frederick dilutes the planned visit, mentioning his emergency visit to Geneva. A disappointed Daisy tells him to visit her next year in Rome.
In Rome, both meet unexpectedly in a Parlor. He learns from the parlor owner Mrs. Walker that Daisy has flirted and leads a socially unacceptable life with Giovanelli, an Italian. Frederick accompanied by Mrs. Walker, tries to persuade Daisy, but their efforts in vein. Frederick unexpectedly meets the young pair in a place which is prone to Roman fever, and takes up a fight with Giovanelli for bringing her to such a dangerous place. However Daisy does not change her attitude and dies later catching the infamous Roman fever after few days.