Up until the end of the book, I have really enjoyed Daisy Miller. I liked the controversy of how different nations view flirting and relationships. However, I did not like how James ended the novella. I think it was because he wanted Daisy to pay for her consequences. But, were her actions even that bad? At the end, I felt sympathy for Daisy. I began to understand where she was coming from. She did not know any better because she was accustomed to her ways at home. I do recognize that fact that Daisy was warned by Winterbourne and Mrs. Walker, but still, she did not believe she was harming her own reputation, however,  part of me thinks she knew she was ruining her reputation, but another part of me believes she really did not understand the fuss people were making over and Mr. Giovanelli. 
               I never liked Mr. Giovanelli from the start. To be honest, he seemed like a pig who was taking advantage of a poor American girl who did not know any better. But at the end, I became extremely infuriated with him because he took Daisy to the Coliseum knowing what could happen to her. By going to the Coliseum at night and breathing in the bad air, visitors can catch “Roman fever,” which is essentially malaria. Mr. Giovanelli knew what could possibly happen to Daisy and because he was selfish, he took Daisy there anyway. What do you think happened? Yes, Daisy caught malaria, became very ill and died shortly after.  When Winterbourne confronted Mr. Giovanelli about why he took Daisy there, Mr. Giovanelli gave a selfish answer, claiming that he loved Daisy but he knew he never would have been able to marry her. I took this as the fact that Mr. Giovanelli could not bear the thought of Daisy falling in love with someone else, so he took her there in the hopes that she would catch malaria. How selfish can you get? 
            Shortly after Daisy’s death, Mrs. Miller called on Winterbourne because she wanted to speak with him. She told him that all along Daisy had highly respected his opinion and that she cared about he thought after all. I thought this was a great thing to add at the end of the novella. Winterbourne had to deal with the fact that the girl he loved was gone forever, but he realized she truly believed every word he said and that made him believe that Daisy might have possibly been in love with him.
            One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is because there is so much controversy you could argue about with the problems between nations. Everyone looks at America because in this case they are seen as flirtatious and open about relationships. They can also come across as conceited and snotty, but look at Mr. Giovanelli. He was not from America and he treated women horribly. Italian men are supposed to be gentlemen to all ladies. It just goes to show, that stereotyping a nation does not apply to every individual who lives there.

    Towards the middle of the book, the Miller family has moved to Rome, Italy. Previously, when Winterbourne and Daisy were saying their goodbyes, Daisy asked Winterbourne if he would come visit her in Rome and he promised he would try his best. Well, his aunt has moved to Rome and Winterbourne came to visit her again and his aunt proceeds to tell him that the Millers are there as well. She also has some new news about Daisy, “The young lady, however, is also intimate with some third-rate Italians, with whom she rackets about in a way that makes much talk” (James 32). I knew I did not like Daisy Miller. This book was written in the late 1800s and relationships between people were not displayed publicly, and this is why people are talking about Daisy with such a negative regard. Daisy is so naive, sometimes, that it makes me angry. She does not realize that people are talking about her, nor does she care. She is a girl from America, so already she has the reputation of being a flirt and by associating herself with this Italian does not help her one little bit. 
     I am wondering if this points to a theme against how nations perceive one another? Clearly, Daisy is not making a respectable reputation for American women. The Italians are surprised and disturbed by the fact that she just comes to their country and flounces around with every guy she meets. Is James trying to make the make the point that Americans are stubborn and only wish to do that they desire? Or maybe Americans do not have self-respect
for themselves. I am hoping this is not how other countries view Americans. Maybe it is. If they look at us in this way, then we need to address this reputation. Perhaps it was just the view of people in James’ time? These are all questions that intrigue me. But so far, the major themes of this book appear to be about countrie’s relations to one another, societal status, and young women and men in love.
     Once Winterbourne learns of the news that Daisy is being pursued by other men, he immediately sets out and searches for her. How stupid of him. I mean really, if she is playing all of these guys, would she not treat Winterbourne in the same way? I am just making an assumption here, but I know Winterbourne is a lot smarter than this. A friend of Winterbourne and Daisy took notice of Daisy’s actions and said in confidence to Winterbourne, “It is really too dreadful. That girl must not do this sort of thing. She must not walk here with you two men. Fifty people have noticed her “ (James 41). I really like this quote, because at this point, Mrs. Walker and I seem to be sharing the same views. Daisy has so much going for her and she is throwing it away by acting extremely flirtatious. 
     I am predicting that there will be some consequences for Daisy’s actions in the future. This girl needs more self respect and her mother does not even notice. She thinks it is perfectly fine for Daisy to be running around any time of the day with Mr. Giovanelli, considering the fact that Mr. Giovanelli has a reputation with the ladies of Rome. Oh dear, this does not appear to be turning out well. I must say I enjoy this novella very much. It is very similar to Austen’s works. James seems to give it his own twist though, causing it to be more interesting and addicting for the reader.

            

    Picking up Daisy Miller, I was hoping it would be somewhat of an intrigue to me. I enjoy many of Jane Austen’s novels and so this book seemed like a perfect choice. Considering the fact that this novella is only 64 pages, I am  only able to discuss about the first 20 pages. The opening lines in chapter one grabbed my attention and from then on I was hooked, “At the little town of Vevey, in Switzerland, there is a particularly comfortable hotel. There are, indeed many hotels; for the environment of tourists is the business of the place, which, as many travellers will remember, is seated upon the edge of a remarkably blue lake--a lake that it behooves every tourist to visit” (James 3). Now, I became really interested because it was a book like Jane Austen’s only set in another country. 
     In the beginning, the character of Winterbourne is introduced. From the start, I really like Winterbourne’s character. He is just a good guy. He studies in Geneva, he has come home to see his aunt because she is sick and he treats ladies with the utmost respect. Right after Winterbourne is introduced, Daisy Miller comes into the picture. I am not fond of her as of now. As the book goes on, I may change my mind, but she does not come across right to me, “She was dressed in white muslin, with a hundred frills and flounces, and knots of pale-colored ribbon. She was bare-headed; but she balanced in her hand a large parasol, with a deep border of embroidery; and she was strikingly, admirably pretty” (James 6). She appears as a perfect angel, but in reality, she is very rude. She will not acknowledge Winterbourne. She keeps her nose up in the air and bosses around her little brother. First impressions are everything and already, I have a bad feeling about her. One character I am completely fond of is her little brother, Randolph. He is a little fireball with a lot of energy and he tells it like it is. 
     Chapter one is simply introductions, but at the end Winterbourne begins to woo Daisy. He has asked her to go to the Chateau de Chillon with him. Daisy mentioned the idea of going earlier, when they first met, and Winterbourne asked if he would be able to take Daisy, her brother and mother. Daisy says no, that it will not be necessary, because secretly she just wants her and Winterbourne to go. I already know that I do not like the idea of Winterbourne being associated with Daisy. She is a mystical creature to him. She is hypnotizing him and he is falling for it. Winterbourne’s aunt warns him against this and tells him that these people are just common people and he should not associate with them. It is not a good idea. It appears the Millers are trying to be something they are not. They act like they belong to the  high social class by dressing nicely and acting like they belong in the high society, but Winterbourne’s aunt knows different. I am excited to keep reading!