Henry James- Daisy Miller

Daisy Miller is a young woman around the age of 18. It's setting is in the late 1800's in Switzerland/ Europe. She is a very pretty girl with an ill mother and a hyper little brother. Unfortunately she attracts negative attention to herself. She is alway seen with different men walking around by herself with them in the country. During this time that was unacceptable and looked down upon very much. Because of her actions, people didn't respect her or want to give her the time of day. There were only a certain few who truely cared for her. Her mother, brother, Mr. Winterbourne, and an older woman named Mrs. Costello. But she is very hard-headed and doesn't care what people think of her. So the more they tried to direct her, the more she rebelled. When comparing this story to today, you can see how much society has changed over time. Today, woman are seen as independent self-sufficient woman and can make their own decisions. In this story, even though Daisy Miller wouldn't listen, people would try to guide her what to do because they felt she couldn't make decisions for herself. Also, woman are seen as scandalous if seen walking with men, or have many different male friends. It's accepted. And I also feel that even though people still judge a lot today, it's not as bad as back in Daisy Miller's time.