Daisy Miller

A major theme in Henry James’s overall body of work is the conflict and misunderstanding that can arise for Americans while traveling abroad to Europe. However, in Daisy Miller, this class and behavior conflict is really more between the two classes of Americans than between Americans and Europeans. Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Walker spearhead their campaign against Daisy, and they often say that others are talking about her, but it appears to be other Americans staying at the hotel, not local Romans. Indeed, Mr. Giovanelli is very well-mannered and does not appear to be taking advantage of Daisy’s innocence. Daisy Miller thus exposes the role that ideas about class and social standing play within the norms of this upper-class American social set, and how they shape their dealings with one another.

The Millers and people like Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Watson represent two distinct classes in American society. When they are all traveling and staying in the same place, the prominent families who have enjoyed the privilege of generational wealth for decades do not want to be confused with families like the Millers, who have only recently made a fortune and do not know how to behave in various contexts.