Daisy Miller

Chelsey Wilkins
Daisy Milliard: Two pg. lit.
12/6/09
AP English III


Henry James was a key figure of nineteenth century realism. As an American writer, James wrote about experiences between Americans and Europeans in Europe. One of his most valuable short novels was Daisy Miller. Written in the realist era, the novel speaks in first person, telling the tale of an appealing American girl and Winterbourne’s experience with her.

The rhetorical device, imagery, was used throughout the novel. James used imagery to draw the audience into the setting in Europe. “But after all he had no enemies; he was an extremely amiable fellow and universally liked.” This quote, found early in the novel, was one of the first senses of imagery the audience perceived because it gave an idea about what type of person Winterbourne is and what qualities he holds. “A pale complexion and sharp little features. He was dressed in knickerbockers, with red stockings, which displayed his poor little spindle shanks,” was yet another example of imagery. The quote not only uses imagery to give a mental image of what the small boy wore but also of the face expression on his face. Imagery set the mood of the realist novel.

Undeniable pathos was appealed to. Winterbourne was obviously high strung over daisy. A sense of passion and courtesy came as he fixed himself for her arrival. “The young lady inspected her flounces and smoothed her ribbons again; and Winterbourne presently risked an observation upon the beauty of the view.” The quote not only establishes the tension between Winterbourne and Daisy but also tells of his feelings towards her and how he admires her beauty. As well as, Daisy’s, desire to stay as neat and as beautiful as possible while in Winterbourne’s prescience. The development of the burning passion and suspense keeps the audience attracted.

James wrote Daisy Miller in first person. The act of writing in first person only made the story more reliable, appealing to ethos. James used very vivid diction and imagery that more than drew his audience in but made the story seem as if it was one of his own personal experiences, which is the whole point of a realist writer.

To conclude, James wrote Daisy Miller. Writing in the realist era, James wrote in the first person to appeal to his audience. Throughout the novel. James appealed to pathos, ethos, and imagery. Daisy Miller is a short story not only about the experience of an American man in Europe but also his growing passion with a blunt unsophisticated flirty young girl. I personally liked the story and feel that the imagery gave me a further understanding of the novel.