Reading Alex’s post had me thinking about the conclusion of the novella on a deeper level: on one level, Daisy’s death can be interpreted as a direct result of her refusal to conform to the social etiquette expected of a young woman in her position. Throughout the story, Daisy is warned about the dangers of Rome in the off-season, not only in terms of health but also regarding her reputation. Her continued nighttime visits to the Colosseum, despite these warnings, symbolize her rebellion against the constraints imposed by society. Her death then can be seen as a harsh punishment meted out by societal norms, almost as if the conservative elements of the culture she flouts are claiming their final revenge.
Yet, there’s a deeper, more tragic irony in Daisy’s death. She dies misunderstood, labeled as reckless and morally questionable by the society she lives in. However, from her perspective and arguably from a modern standpoint, she is merely exercising her freedom to choose her companions and her actions. Daisy’s tragic fate highlights the dangers of rigid social structures that prioritize conformity over individual wellbeing. It’s not just a physical ailment that claims her life but also the social isolation and emotional stress caused by constant judgment and exclusion.
Moreover, as stated in one of my posts, Daisy’s death serves as a moment of realization for Winterbourne, the narrator, who spends much of the novella oscillating between admiration for Daisy’s independence and judgment of her actions based on societal expectations. Only in retrospect does he question whether he ever truly understood Daisy or if he too readily accepted the social codes that condemned her. This reflection invites readers to consider their own perspectives and biases, making Daisy’s story not just a critique of 19th-century social mores but a timeless reflection on the conflict between individual identity and societal pressure. In this way, the ending of Daisy Miller is both a critique of societal expectations and a tragedy of personal freedom.
I wrote a comment on another blog post that was similar to this one because I think that analyzing the meaning behind Daisy’s death is really interesting. Personally, my mindset around it was that the 19th century wasn’t ready for a woman like her to exist, she refused to conform to social norms expected of her. When Daisy didn’t conform it altered the way that she existed/was able to exist in her world, she was victim to social isolation and emotional stress from the constant judgment that she underwent. I think that your point talking about the dangers of rigid social structures is SO IMPORTANT and thinking about the ways that society prioritized wanting Daisy to conform to what they wanted over her own life and wellbeing is disturbing to me. Also, the idea that it could be seen as a “harsh punishment” both makes sense to me in the context of the discussion, but also makes me a little nauseous to think about how many thought that societal pressures were being prioritized over a human beings life, and how she had to face mistreatment simply because she was expressing an individual identity. Winterbourne, in retrospect even thinks about the ways that he may have been too supportive of the social codes that were condemning Daisy.
One of the things I’ve thought about a lot while writing some of my comments about Daisy and analyzing her as a character is the ways that even in the 21st century, there are still so many ways that people prioritize what they view as “social norms” over the health or wellbeing of a person. As time progresses, there is a pattern of each generation adapting a new identity/characteristic etc. that they decide isn’t conforming “properly to society” and there becomes an environment that is created that condemns anyone with that specific (insert whatever it is here). This also ties back to the way that people can indeed put their own judgements on a certain thing over the wellbeing of others or not think about the way that their actions will affect others. This is similar to the way that Daisy was judged without thought to her wellbeing, and Winterbourne’s later reflection that the way he supported societal norms could have harmed Daisy.
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I agree with you, that Daisy’s death results from her unwillingness to conform to societal standards. Her literal death is a representation of the “social death” of people who refuse to follow the unspoken rules; they’re ostracized and criticized, like Daisy. In a situation like that, co-existence isn’t possible, and either Daisy has to change, or society does.
I also wonder how much of this story is a reflection of the growing women’s rights movement. The story was published in 1878, thirty years after the Seneca Falls Convention in the US. In the 1860s in the UK, where Henry James lived, women’s suffrage societies were starting to form. Therefore, I think this story could be seen as a clash between the traditional nature of society, and women’s desire to have more freedoms.