A summary of Daisy Miller

This short story serves as both a psychological description of the mind of a young woman, and an analysis of the traditional views of a society where she is a clear outsider. Henry James uses Daisy's story to discuss what he thinks Europeans and Americans believe about each other, and more generally the prejudices common in any culture. In a letter James said that Daisy is the victim of a \or beneath her notice.

Annie \Miller and Frederick Winterbourne are introduced by Randolph Miller, Daisy's 9-year-old brother. They first meet each other in Vevey, in a garden of a hotel where Winterbourne is allegedly vacationing. Her brother do think their society is superior to all of Europe .But Daisy is surprisingly delighted with the this continent. She also long to join in the European high society.

Winterbourne is bewildered by her attitude as a girl towards everything firstly, and he gradually discovers that she is nothing more than a young flirt. However, he also find he falls love with this young and impressively beautiful lady. And he still purse her regardless of the disagree of his aunt, Mrs. Costello, who spurns any family with so close a relationship to their courier as the Millers have with their Eugenio. She also holds the view that Daisy is a shameless girl since she agrees to visit the Chateau with Winterbourne after they have met each other for only half an hour. The next day, they travel to Chateau together. Although Winterbourne had paid the janitor for privacy, Daisy do not pay too much attention to it. Then Winterbourne tells Daisy that he have to go to Geneva the next day which makes Daisy feel so disappointed and sad. She chaffs him, asking him whether he would like to visit her in Rome that year. Eventually Winterbourne accepts that invitation.

In Rome, Winterbourne and Daisy meet unexpectedly in the parlor of Mrs. Walker. She is an American expatriate and her moral values have been changed to adapt the Italian society. Rumors that Daisy meets young Italian gentlemen arise and make her socially exceptionable by European criteria. Winterbourne continues to learn Daisy is increasing intimacy with a young Italian who is a third-rate person in the society, Giovanelli, as well as the growing scandal caused by their unusual behavior. Daisy is undeterred by the open disapproval of the other Americans in Rome, and her mother seemingly does not notice the underlying questions. Winterbourne and Mrs. Walker try their attempt to persuade Daisy to leave Giovanelli. However, she refuses the so-called help that is offered by Winterbourne and Mrs. Walker.

One night, Winterbourne takes a walk through the Colosseum and sees a young couple sitting at its center. He realizes that they are Giovanelli and Daisy. Winterbourne, infuriated with Giovanelli, asks him how he could dare to take Daisy to a place where she runs the risk of catching \leaves them. Winterbourne ever think doubt that if he has lived in European too long and

he try to persuade Mrs. Walker that she is not a flirt. However, in the end he does not figure out the problem.

A few days later, Daisy get serious illness and finally she died. In her feudal, Giovanelli say Daisy is really innocent.