The Creation of a new type of American masculinity in James' novel 'Daisy Miller'

Exposé Écrit pour un Séminaire / Cours , 2001 , 15 Pages , Note: 1,0 (A)

Philologie Américaine - Littérature

Henry James was 35 years old in 1878 when he wrote "Daisy Miller". He was considered a celebrity in his home country America and also in England, which was later to become his second home. Not only was he successful in writing his novel, he also changed American literature with his masterpiece. Generations of literary critics have been dealing with "Daisy Miller" in terms of the creation of a new type of American female.1

In my paper I want to approach the novel a little differently by taking a closer look at the male protagonist Frederick Winterbourne.

I would also like to take a closer look at the narrative perspective and the way Winterbourne is represented by it. Furthermore I am interested in the gender relationship between Daisy and Winterbourne and their attempts to find a way to get together. The problems arising from this, concerning Winterbourne, will lead me to the last topic, the crisis in American masculinity, the images of masculinity reflected in the novel and a way of creating a new identity of American men. A main problem is procrastination that keeps people from doing the right thing and developing as a person. Another thing I want to take a look at is the mystery Daisy as an American woman is for Winterbourne and how he deals with his insecurity. In fighting it he makes attempts to create his masculinity. James also intended to make his protagonists allegories of certain features in the American mentality and shows problems of American society in the 19th century. James takes an exemplary relationship by which he tries to depict the very tricky situation of America itself and gender-relation in America in those days. The young expatriate Winterbourne and his problems with his countrywoman Daisy Miller mirror the problematic situation of the nation. The way James employs shifts in his narration shows the reader how strange the situation is and somehow also comical. Winterbourne whose main interest is the innocence of Daisy is in bigger terms looking for America′s innocence that seemed to be lost after the end of the Civil War.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction:
  • The depiction of Winterbourne and the narrative perspective
  • The relationship between Winterbourne and Daisy
  • The change in American masculinity reflected by Winterbourne
• Part A
  • The depiction of Winterbourne and the narrative perspective

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to analyze Henry James's 1878 novel "Daisy Miller" through the lens of its male protagonist, Frederick Winterbourne. The paper examines the narrative perspective and its representation of Winterbourne, exploring the dynamics of the gender relationship between Winterbourne and Daisy Miller. Additionally, the paper delves into the themes of American masculinity and its transformation as depicted in the novel.

• Narrative perspective and its portrayal of Winterbourne
• Gender dynamics and the relationship between Winterbourne and Daisy Miller
• The evolution of American masculinity in the 19th century
• Procrastination and its impact on personal development
• The mystery of Daisy Miller and Winterbourne's struggle with insecurity

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction provides context for the analysis, highlighting the significance of "Daisy Miller" in American literature and the novel's exploration of a new type of American female. The paper then shifts its focus to the male protagonist, Frederick Winterbourne, outlining the key areas of analysis: the narrative perspective, the relationship with Daisy Miller, and the evolution of American masculinity.

Part A focuses on the depiction of Winterbourne and the narrative perspective. The analysis highlights James's use of a third-person narrative, examining how this perspective portrays Winterbourne's character and his interactions with Daisy Miller. The discussion explores the narrator's role in conveying Winterbourne's thoughts and perceptions, analyzing the use of language and stylistic elements to create a particular impression of Winterbourne's character and his evolving perspective on Daisy.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key themes and concepts explored in this paper include: American masculinity, narrative perspective, gender dynamics, cultural identity, procrastination, and the evolving nature of American society in the 19th century. The analysis focuses on the interplay between these concepts as they are reflected in the relationship between Frederick Winterbourne and Daisy Miller, and in the larger context of American culture and societal norms of the time.

• Université: University of Stuttgart (Institute for American Studies)
• Note: 1,0 (A)
• Auteur: Tobias Bumm (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2001
• Pages: 15
• N° de catalogue: V10831
• ISBN (ebook): 9783638171533
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Creation, American, James, Daisy, Miller