Henry James Essay, Research Paper

Henry James was born in New York in 1843. His parents were Henry James Sr. and

Mary James. Henry James had three brothers and one sister. Henry James?

ancestor, William James, was an 18 year old Irishman who arrived in America in

1789. According to family legend, the ancestor arrived with a very small sum of

money and later gained a small fortune through the establishment of a store in

New York. Later, he ventured into banking and the manufacture of salt which

paved his way as a powerful man in the upper Hudson area. Jamesville, New York

and two streets in Albany and Syracuse were named after this legendary ancestor

( Henry James). As a young child, Henry James had only private tutors and never

gained any strict education. The year Henry James turned twelve years old his

family moved to Switzerland and later to France and Germany. After the

completion of his family?s travels, Henry James returned to America and

enrolled in Harvard law school for a while. He withdrew soon after his

enrollment because he desired to pursue writing rather than an education. His

father?s leisurely lifestyle as a traveler and writer allowed Henry James to

meet people like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bronson Alcott. His youthful years in

Europe left a great impression. Later in his life, James moved to England where

he established citizenship as a protest against America?s failure to enter the

war against Germany. Henry James died on February 28, 1916 ( "Henry

James"). Some scholars criticize James works because of its slow

development and deliberate withholding of information. These two characteristics

are a result of his leisurely and refined lifestyle. Therefore, James purposely

developed his novels with a conscientious slowness and refinement. James was

interested in the society of people who possessed subtle ideas and interests

much like himself and his father. The people in this society had enough money to

develop their ideas and refinements. Also, Henry James was the first writer to

introduce the theme of an American in Europe( Henry James). Characters in Daisy

Miller Daisy Miller A young, exceptionally pretty, young lady from the United

States who shocks the more formalized European society by her spontaneous acts.

Mrs. Miller Daisy?s mother, who seems to sanction most of Daisy?s erratic

actions. Frederick Winterbourne The narrator of the story and a huge fan of

Daisy?s. Mrs. Costello Winterbourne?s aunt, who acts as his confidante. She

thoroughly disapproves of Daisy. Mrs. Walker A mutual friend of Winterbourne and

Daisy. She later severs her relationship with Daisy. Mr. Giovanelli An Italian

hottie whom Daisy picks up in Rome. Summery by rinkworks.com! Frederick

Winterbourne Daisy Miller, you have caught my eye. Daisy Miller Good, let’s go

somewhere unchaperoned. (They do.) Daisy Miller Now I will be flirtatious with

someone else. Frederick Winterbourne But I’m obsessed with you. Go home and take

some medicine. Daisy Miller No, I don’t care if I die. (dies) Frederick

Winterbourne Those wacky Americans. I’ll never understand them. The End. Theme

Basically, all of James? novels have the same theme, American vs. European. I

found many other themes. Innocence vs. Knowledge; Utility vs. Form and ceremony;

Spontaneity vs. Ritual; Chaos vs. Order. Point of View The story is told through

Winterbourne?s eyes. It?s 1st person. I wanted it to be more complicated,

but it is not. Literary Devises Foreshadowing is used throughout the book. For

example, everyone keeps telling Daisy to take her medicine or she will get sick.

Daisy doesn?t take her medicine? My Opinion This story is trite. It is a

simple read but not worth it. I found the characters were poorly developed and

the story was just plain stupid. I do not recommend this book. Quotes

"She?s completely uncultivated," Winterbourne went on. "But she

is wonderfully pretty, and, in short, she is nice. To prove that I believe it, I

am going to take her to the Chвteau de Chillon." Winterbourne to his

Aunt after 1st meeting Daisy (James 21). "What has she been doing?"

"Everything that is not done here. Flirting with any man she could pick up;

sitting in corners with mysterious Italians; dancing all the evening with the

same partners; receiving visits at eleven o?clock at night. Her mother goes

away when visitors come." Mrs. Costello (Winterbourne?s Aunt) to

Winterbourne (James 57). Daisy gave a violent laugh. "I never heard

anything so stiff! If this is improper, Mrs. Walker," she pursued,

"then I am all improper, and you must give up on me. Good-bye; I hope you

have a lovely ride!" and, with Mr. Giovanelli, who made a triumphantly

obsequious salute, she turned away. Daisy to Mrs. Walker after refusing a ride

home (James 56). A Classic This book is a classic because it has a universal

theme. A theme that stands the test of time. Personally, I didn?t find it very

meaningful but, in its time, Daisy Miller, was very controversial.

"Henry James" The Hutchinson Encyclopedia. CD ROM; Helicon

Publishing Ltd., 1999 James, Henry. Daisy Miller. New York. Tom Doherty Ass.,

1988