Culture is the phenomenon that differs human beings from all other animal species in the world. However, culture is also a matter of prejudice and streotype formation against this or that nation or ethnic group. Accordingly, this paper will examine the issues of cultural differences and stereotypes discussed in the short story by Henry James “Daisy Miller”. In other words, this paper will try to see what was “wrong” with Daisy in this short story, or what other people thought was wrong with her.
To start with, it is necessary to state that the work by Henry James is a story about a young American girl who finds herself in a different culture of Europe and tries to adjust to it. Another major character of the story, Mr. Winterbourne, is in love with the heroine of the story. He always tries to show her that her deeds are unacceptable in the European culture, but his attempts turn vain. Daisy Miller feels free to communicate with men whom she hardly knows and feels no shame for this. Moreover, she willingly agrees to have a walk with Mr. Winterbourne after a half-an-hour communication with him. After all, at their final meeting in Rome, Daisy Miller and Mr. Winterbourne have a talk about her behavior which also turns out to be vain – in this case because Daisly dies of a fever. After her death, Mr. Winterbourne comes to know that Daisly loved him, but has nothing to do but return to Switzerland.
Thus, having considered the details of the story, it is necessary to analyze Daisy’s behavior. First of all, it is obvious that the 19th century Europe was not the place to openly flirt with men for such a young woman as Daisy. The cultural and behavioral traditions of European countries did not allow women to privately communicate with unfamiliar men. Moreover, dating these men without the girl’s parents’ consent was also inappropriate. However, Daisy did this with no shame as far as her upbringing allowed her to. She represented the American culture which has always been less conservative than the European one. Finally, after Daisy’s death, her mother described her as a simple young flirt who never meant to offend traditions of any country or behave improperly. Daisy just lived as she felt she had to, and the society of her epoch considered this lifestyle to be wrong.
Accordingly, it is obvious that according to the modern standards there was nothing wrong with Daily Miller. Her behavior is common to the modern females and the society does not prohibit it. The only wrong ppoint about Daisly was that she adopted such behavior in a wrong epoch. In other words, she went ahead of her time in establishing behavioral standards and moral norms.
So, to conclude it is necesary to state that cultural differences are major reasons to forming stereotypes against some nations. The major character of Henry James’ story, Daisy Miller, was one of the first people who contributed to the formation of prejudice about the Americans. What was wrong about her, was that she acted in the contradiction to the demands of her time. The society of the 19th century Europe was not ready for free relations between men and women, and Daisy Miller had enough courage to go against the public opinion.