Dr. Masters – Week 4: “Daisy Miller” by Henry James

 

Frederick Winterbourne is smitten with Daisy when he meets her in Vevey, Switzerland.  They both plan to winter in Rome where she is seen with Mr. Giovanelli, which makes him a little jealous, but he won’t admit it.  Gossip spreads of her behavior of being seen out with a gentleman unescorted.  Several of the characters contract dyspepsia, in Italy, of course.  Indigestion is not all that plagues travelers in Italy.  Rome fever is rampant and Daisy ends up contracting it from visiting the Colosseum and dies from it.  This sends a very direct message that Italy is bad for your health. Not only do you have trouble with the food, but you can get “The Fever” and die.  Mrs. Costello is known for her headaches, Randolph, his mother and father all suffer from dyspepsia, while Daisy seems immune at first.

 

Daisy breaks from societal rules when she goes out sightseeing with Giovanelli.  They visit Pincian Gardens and end up at the Colosseum where her punishment is this dreaded disease that takes her life.  Don’t dare to depart from social norms or you will be punished.  Visiting Italy is risking your life.  If you want to satisfy your curiosity, be warned of the consequences. 

 

This story is a little kinder on the character, Giovanelli, in that Winterbourne does a background check on him and finds him to be on the respectable side, but still wonders what his motives were concerning Daisy.  In the end, Giovanelli tells Winterbourne that she would never have married him.  She wanted Winterbourne to know that she was not engaged and leaves a message for him.  Italy will exploit your vulnerabilities that bring to her.  Daisy’s ended in death, Winterbourne’s and Giovanelli’s ended in regret.