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Theresa Woods
Professor Tova Cooper
AML 3032
22 October 2009
Social Stratification in “Daisy Miller”
Henry James’ “Daisy Miller” is a commentary on many things. It is an examination of social classes, women who push boundaries, deserved and undeserved sympathy, confusing love and the very definition of love it’s self. The setting of Europe provides James’ diverse cast of characters with a rich cultural background to either embrace or ignore. In the story we see both extremes observed by Americans abroad, which serves as a tool for separating the crude from the acceptable conformists. In “Daisy Miller,” Henry James illustrates his claim that Americans, when placed in a foreign culture, can be separated into two opposing social groups: those who retain their American identity and are seen as vulgar, ill-mannered and self centered; and those who attempt to shed their American identity in favor of what they perceive is the local attitude.
These latter colonists are depicted as being shallow and pretentious in “Daisy Miller.” James displays these stereotypes in the opinions and interactions concerning Daisy Miller and the sole developed European character, Giovanelli.
At the very start of the story we are introduced to Daisy Miller herself, who is quickly identified as James’ representation of “new money.” Within moments of meeting Daisy and her brother, Randolph, our narrator, Winterbourne, learns that their father is not accompanying them on their European tour because he is still in Schenectady, working. Randolph states that his
“father’s rich,” and as the story progresses, we learn that the family is recently wealthy (James
8). Through Daisy and Randolph’s initial actions, the reader gains a sense of how James aims to

Woods 2 represent this social class. Randolph is first seen on the streets of Geneva, crudely poking flowerbeds and ladies’ dresses with a pointed stick (4). He lacks manners and refuses to be educated during the family’s travels and wanders the unfamiliar streets of Europe without a chaperone, which is against European custom (9). Daisy Miller is, at first, more concerned with the state of her dress than devoting her attention to Winterbourne, but then proceeds to discuss matters of her family, society and her abundance of “gentleman friends” in New York (7-8). She does this without reason or invitation, which is a vulgar act. Winterbourne, however, is charmed, and fails to see her as shallow and vapid, and proceeds to describe her as a “pretty American flirt
(10).”
The characteristics of the “old money” class are a sharp contrast to that of the “new money.” Mrs. Costello and Mrs. Walker are James’ chief symbols, and he makes their disapproval of the recently wealthy quite clear. Mrs. Costello, Winterbourne’s aunt, refuses to be introduced to the Millers, even upon her kin’s insistence. When asked if she is familiar with them, Mrs. Costello replies: “Oh, yes, I have observed them. Seen them – heard them – and kept out of their way (13).” She calls the Miller family “common” and does not identify them at all with the wealthy society that she herself belongs to (14). Mrs. Walker takes a similar attitude after spending time with the family. Initially, the Millers are friends with Mrs. Walker, but after a disagreement with Daisy about tradition and proper behavior, she turns her back on the girl, quite literally. When Daisy departs from a party at Mrs. Walker’s home following the dispute, Mrs.
Walker physically turns from Daisy, effectively shunning her. “She never enters my drawingroom again,” Mrs. Walker tells Winterbourne (41). These judgments based on standards over individual behavior and tradition despite change is the basis for the social stratification of

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Americans abroad. It is along these lines that the two classes further separate on the matter of
Mr. Giovanelli.
Even before Giovanelli is seen by the narrator he is the cause of dissent among the
American colonists. Daisy herself is quite enamored with Giovanelli, referring to him as the
“handsomest man in the world,” barring Winterbourne. She calls him “tremendously clever” and
“perfectly lovely,” showing that she has evaluated Giovanelli on his personal qualities rather than his place in society (29). Mrs. Walker, when discussing the aforementioned party, hesitates before giving her consent that Daisy bring the “beautiful Giovanelli” to her home, though she has no reason to express distrust of this character (29-30). Following this expression of reluctance,
Mrs. Walker insists that Daisy refrain from going on a walk through Pincio with Giovanelli. Her reasons for disapproval are a sharp contrast to those of Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller expresses concern only for Daisy’s health, as the “Roman fever” (malaria) was rampant in the area. Mrs.
Walker questions whether or not it is proper in Rome for a young, unmarried lady to be walking unchaperoned with a man (30). She even goes as far as to follow Daisy when she does go out to meet Giovanelli in order to “save her (34).” Mrs. Miller reacts to the situation in concern for her daughter – she expresses no issue with Giovanelli or Daisy’s desire to spend time with him. Mrs.
Walker is solely concerned with Daisy’s appearances and makes no mention of her health. She makes a single reference to Daisy’s safety, but her following comments and actions lead the read to believe that this was her security in society rather than her physical well-being (30).
The animosity towards Daisy does not stop with Mrs. Walker. During a vespers-service at St. Peter’s, Winterbourne witnesses Mrs. Costello and her friends discussing Daisy Miller.
They stated that she was going “too far,” presumably with Giovanelli and the amount of time she spent with him (43). Following this, the Americans in Rome fail to invite Daisy to any social

Woods 4 gatherings, and that they made an effort to paint her behavior with Giovanelli as “abnormal” to their European acquaintances. This simply shows that the American colonists of the “old money” are willing to judge one of their own based on how he or she conformed to the rules of society rather than their individual qualities and merits (44). In sharp contrast, Mrs. Miller seems thrilled with the time Daisy spends with Giovanelli. Upon receiving Winterbourne in Daisy’s absence,
Mrs. Miller tells him that “she’s always going round with Mr. Giovanelli.” When Winterbourne comments on their closeness, Mrs. Miller states that “it seems as if they couldn’t live without each other,” and that Daisy might as well be engaged. Her following contemplation about writing to her husband about her daughter’s relationship, in addition to her enthusiasm, shows that Mrs.
Miller is more concerned with her daughter’s happiness than her social status. She says nothing of the gossip about town or of Mrs. Walker’s snub (44). Mrs. Miller seems to be very fond of
Giavonelli until the very end of the tale when he fails to visit Daisy while she is ill. She calls the
Italian impolite and changes her judgment on him based on his actions rather than his conformity
(50).
The divisions among the Americans abroad in “Daisy Miller” are easy to see. James shows those of established, wealthy backgrounds as being pretentious imitators of European society. They aim to mimic the rules and customs of the locale and fail at adapting the constraints for their situation as tourists. Those who are recently wealthy are seen as being sympathetic individualists who recognize the boundaries of society but evaluate for themselves when to heed them. These attitudes towards social interactions and the judgment of others are clearly displayed in the two classes’ reactions towards Daisy Miller and her relationship with
Giovanelli. Those of “old money” disapproved and turned their backs on Daisy, while those of
“new money” were supportive of Daisy’s happiness and liked Giovanelli based on his personal

Woods 5 qualities. James uses these dynamic characters to illustrate the rules of society and how the source of money and desire to conform and imitate locals abroad can change how people act outside of their homeland.

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Works Cited
James, Henry. Tales of Henry James . Ed. Christof Wegelin and Henry B. Wonham. 2nd ed.
1878. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2003. Print.