Annotated Bibliography
Daisy Miller: Flirt For Life
A Look Into the Novella, Daisy Miller:
An Annotated Bibliograpghy
Barnett, Louise K. "Jamesian Feminism: Women In "Daisy Miller"." EBSCO Publishing (2002):
281-87. Andrews University. Web. 19 May 2012.
Barnett discusses the idea of women in society at the time Daisy Miller was
written in. The idea that James, author of Daisy Miller, writes about the tension
between individual self-realization and social restrictions. However, James really
discusses it in his short novella, Daisy Miller and he goes on to explore the behavior of
women in their environment, yet he does it through a feminist lense. James makes
Daisy give up some extent of freedom to meet the needs and expectations of society.
This articles discusses what it means for Daisy to be a woman and James wanted to
point out as a woman in society, there are certain expectations of them. Daisy gave up
her reputation to have freedom and the ability to be with the man she wanted to.
Childress, Ron. "James' Daisy Miller." (2002): 24-25. Web. 19 May 2012.
In most stories, including Daisy Miller, there is some type of fear displayed
throughout the text. Fear is then an important influence in how people behave and
react to situations. Childress discusses how the word afraid is used multiple times to
prove that multiple characters either experienced fear or did not experience it.
Winterbourne experienced it in a way that he was always using the word afraid
towards Daisy. He was always afraid Daisy did not have the right relationship with her
mother. She ran around too much with other men and he was ultimately afraid that
Daisy would never like him. Daisy, on the other hand, used the word afraid in the story
to state on multiple occasions that she is not afraid. Overall, the theme of fear
contributes to the whole of the story to explain some of the actions and behaviors of
the characters.
Kirk, Carey H. ""Daisy Miller": Reader's Guide." Studies in Short Fiction : 275-83. Web. 19
May 2012.
This article has newer criticism and discusses how the opinion of Daisy Miller
has evolved through time. Originally, the people who disliked this novel, thought of
Daisy as the bad character and the embarrassing stereotype of an American woman.
However, Kirk now addresses the fact that Winterbourne is the bad character. He is
now being accused of being too emotional and an unfeeling criminal. Daisy is viewed
as his most innocent victim. The article goes on to say that the reason for the change
of view on the characters is that, now a days, women are viewed differently in society
and are allowed to be more free. So now, Winterbourne looks like a bad guy because
the novella is portrayed that Daisy is oppressed by men and specifically men. This is
an extremely interesting point of view to add to Daisy Miller because readers and
critics are finally starting to see what James was trying to accomplish all along, and that
was to exploit that women wanted to have their own freedom and personality, too.
Overall, this article helps to explain James’ intentions with the novella and the ever
changing views of literature.
Martin, W.R., and Warren U. Ober. "Hemingway and James: "A Canary For One" and "Daisy
Miller"." University of Waterloo (2003): 469-71. Web. 19 May 2012.
Martin and Ober both discuss the similarities between Hemingway’s A Canary
For One and James’ Daisy Miller. And, in fact they have the same concepts and ideas.
The themes in Hemingway’s novel strengthen the depth of understanding in James’
novel and vice versa. Both of the main characters are trapped by being in a society
where women are not allowed to express themselves in the way men are. They are
more restricted by what people think of them. This article relates to Daisy Miller
because it discusses one of the main themes in the novella and that is trying to be
your own individual person in a society where that is frowned upon.
Vickers, Joanne F. "Woolson's Response to James: The Vindication of the American Heroine."
Ohio Dominion College : 287-94. Web. 19 May 2012.
In this article Daisy is shown as a hero because she defined what it meant to be
a free woman. Readers and critics across the seas and in America loved her. They
respected the fact that she was a free, young woman and they also believed she
represented the sweet, socialite of America. However, the article makes the point that
there were many people in America who did not view the novella in that way and they
believed that Daisy represented a careless, irresponsible American girl and they did not
like people painting that reputation of America. This is relevant to the novella itself,
because the characters in the novel either liked Daisy or they did not. Some people
looked down upon her for running around with strange men, and some people liked her
because she was her own person in a time and age when women were not supposed
to be free and have their own personality and freedoms.
A Look Into the Novella, Daisy Miller:
An Annotated Bibliograpghy
Barnett, Louise K. "Jamesian Feminism: Women In "Daisy Miller"." EBSCO Publishing (2002):
281-87. Andrews University. Web. 19 May 2012.
Barnett discusses the idea of women in society at the time Daisy Miller was
written in. The idea that James, author of Daisy Miller, writes about the tension
between individual self-realization and social restrictions. However, James really
discusses it in his short novella, Daisy Miller and he goes on to explore the behavior of
women in their environment, yet he does it through a feminist lense. James makes
Daisy give up some extent of freedom to meet the needs and expectations of society.
This articles discusses what it means for Daisy to be a woman and James wanted to
point out as a woman in society, there are certain expectations of them. Daisy gave up
her reputation to have freedom and the ability to be with the man she wanted to.
Childress, Ron. "James' Daisy Miller." (2002): 24-25. Web. 19 May 2012.
In most stories, including Daisy Miller, there is some type of fear displayed
throughout the text. Fear is then an important influence in how people behave and
react to situations. Childress discusses how the word afraid is used multiple times to
prove that multiple characters either experienced fear or did not experience it.
Winterbourne experienced it in a way that he was always using the word afraid
towards Daisy. He was always afraid Daisy did not have the right relationship with her
mother. She ran around too much with other men and he was ultimately afraid that
Daisy would never like him. Daisy, on the other hand, used the word afraid in the story
to state on multiple occasions that she is not afraid. Overall, the theme of fear
contributes to the whole of the story to explain some of the actions and behaviors of
the characters.
Kirk, Carey H. ""Daisy Miller": Reader's Guide." Studies in Short Fiction : 275-83. Web. 19
May 2012.
This article has newer criticism and discusses how the opinion of Daisy Miller
has evolved through time. Originally, the people who disliked this novel, thought of
Daisy as the bad character and the embarrassing stereotype of an American woman.
However, Kirk now addresses the fact that Winterbourne is the bad character. He is
now being accused of being too emotional and an unfeeling criminal. Daisy is viewed
as his most innocent victim. The article goes on to say that the reason for the change
of view on the characters is that, now a days, women are viewed differently in society
and are allowed to be more free. So now, Winterbourne looks like a bad guy because
the novella is portrayed that Daisy is oppressed by men and specifically men. This is
an extremely interesting point of view to add to Daisy Miller because readers and
critics are finally starting to see what James was trying to accomplish all along, and that
was to exploit that women wanted to have their own freedom and personality, too.
Overall, this article helps to explain James’ intentions with the novella and the ever
changing views of literature.
Martin, W.R., and Warren U. Ober. "Hemingway and James: "A Canary For One" and "Daisy
Miller"." University of Waterloo (2003): 469-71. Web. 19 May 2012.
Martin and Ober both discuss the similarities between Hemingway’s A Canary
For One and James’ Daisy Miller. And, in fact they have the same concepts and ideas.
The themes in Hemingway’s novel strengthen the depth of understanding in James’
novel and vice versa. Both of the main characters are trapped by being in a society
where women are not allowed to express themselves in the way men are. They are
more restricted by what people think of them. This article relates to Daisy Miller
because it discusses one of the main themes in the novella and that is trying to be
your own individual person in a society where that is frowned upon.
Vickers, Joanne F. "Woolson's Response to James: The Vindication of the American Heroine."
Ohio Dominion College : 287-94. Web. 19 May 2012.
In this article Daisy is shown as a hero because she defined what it meant to be
a free woman. Readers and critics across the seas and in America loved her. They
respected the fact that she was a free, young woman and they also believed she
represented the sweet, socialite of America. However, the article makes the point that
there were many people in America who did not view the novella in that way and they
believed that Daisy represented a careless, irresponsible American girl and they did not
like people painting that reputation of America. This is relevant to the novella itself,
because the characters in the novel either liked Daisy or they did not. Some people
looked down upon her for running around with strange men, and some people liked her
because she was her own person in a time and age when women were not supposed
to be free and have their own personality and freedoms.