Daisy Miller

“Daisy Miller” by Henry James is a fascinating story of an unsuccessful love story. The reasons for this tragic conclusion reflect the story’s central themes of cultural difference and the enduring conflict between the individual and society. The differing standards that regulate social conduct in America and Europe, especially as regards the proper comportment of women, are evident throughout the work. Are themes anyone, anywhere on this planet can relate too. For example, Daisy …

…norms and Daisy’s indifferent violation of these norms prevents the two of them from being together. For their relationship to have worked, one of them would have had to change, Winterbourne forgetting his family and their expectations or Daisy surrendering her free spirit. In the end, however, neither of these sacrifices proved possible, and Daisy dies before she and Winterbourne could discover a common ground in which their love could take root. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**