Daisy and Editha: A Study of Reality (Essay Sample)

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25 March 2020
Daisy and Editha: A Study of Reality
Daisy Miller is the main character in Henry James’ “Daisy Miller: A Study.” She is a wealthy, young, American lady that hails from upstate New York. She meets Frederick Winterbourne in the middle of her travels around Europe, specifically in Vevey, Switzerland, where she was staying with her mother and brother. During their first meeting, Winterbourne concluded that Miss Miller was, “a pretty American flirt” (James 348). From then on the lad wondered if Daisy was a nice girl, but her behavior never revealed whether she was or not. On the other hand, Editha is William Dean Howells’ main character in “Editha.” She is a young lady who believes that war is glorious, unlike her fiancé George Gearson, who lacks the same enthusiasm for it. Regardless, Mr. Gearson enlists as a soldier. He is, “elected captain and had set 'em up for the whole of Company A” (Howells 321). During the first skirmish, George is killed. Editha’s grief overcomes her to the extent that she becomes ill and bedridden. Howells’ “Editha” and James’ “Daisy Miller: A Study” differ in context and character assigned roles but both Editha and Daisy appear as ignorant young women that fail to understand the workings of reality.
“Editha” unfolds in an American setting whereas “Daisy Miller: A Study” develops in a European surrounding. The period featured in “Editha” is one during which America was plagued with war and the young and able-bodied men in the society had to take up the noble responsibility of defending their country. War impacts the state of society in negative ways because it causes panic among those that are affected both directly and indirectly. The soldiers that enlist, though courageous, fear the uncertainties of war which leave their lives hanging in the balance. Their families battle between the supporting the sacrificial and patriotic decisions the soldiers make and the grief of not knowing whether, at the end of the war, they will come back home alive (Wright 20-25). The latter was the state of the society featured in “Editha.” Inexperienced and naïve, Editha hoped that George would decide to enlist as a war soldier as she thought it would allow him, “be a hero, her hero.” Her perception is uninformed as she appears not to consider the danger the stated decision would come with. However, when Editha’s mother hears that George is thinking about enlisting, she expresses, “Well, I hope he won't go.” She is older than Editha and understands the implications of war. Unlike her daughter, the uncertainties of the outcome worry her. She comprehends that by joining the war, George will put his life at stake. George also expresses his fears and asserts that he expects the struggle will not be protracted. He adds, “But we must provide for contingencies” (Howells 321). George understands that by making the sacrifice to defend America, he might lose his life. As such, he tells Editha that in case he dies he would like her to care for his mother and move on with her life.
On the contrary, the European setting in “Daisy Miller: A Study” is less intense. Daisy, her mother, and brother are traveling through Europe, enjoying a relaxed atmosphere characterized by great views and prestigious hotel facilities. The author explains that unlike George in “Editha” whose thoughts were occupied with the decision of whether to join the war or not (Howell 317), Winterbourne, “Sat in the garden of the Trois Couronnes, looking about him, rather idly” (James 344). Frederick admired the beauty of his surroundings on the tranquil summer morning. He was in Switzerland, the land of neutrality. The Swiss have not always lived by their impartiality policy when it comes to war. They fought many wars in the Middle Ages, and their skills often made them victors. Resultantly, their prowess in winning wars became a thriving business that saw Switzerland fight alongside many nations. When the time to pick a side for the long-run came, the Swiss were torn and decided to make rules of their own. Their neutrality principle dictates that Switzerland shall not engage in armed conflict between other states to promote peace and ensure external security (Dreyer 10-12). Without the pressure, uncertainty, fear, and the panic that accompanies war, inhabitants of societies such as Switzerland have the opportunity to enjoy the good of the land as was the case with Winterbourne.
In his story, Howells portrays his main character Editha as the epitome of social morality whereas James paints Daisy Miller as a spirited and independent young woman that is unafraid of exploring society’s offerings at the cost of the questionability of her morality. Garden (3) explains that societies have different expectations for both men and women with regard to love, relationships, and dating. Most expect that women should play a passive role whereas men take-up the more aggressive one. As such, Editha seems to be a young woman that understands what society requires of her. She has only one suitor, George, to whom she is engaged. As the author explains the young couple’s love story, he points out that Mr. Gearson, “had simply asked her for her love, on the way home from a concert, and she gave her love to him” (Howells 316). In the stated context, Editha was an ‘ideal’ woman that conformed to societal norms that required her to dedicate herself to one man. Contrastingly, Daisy Miller had a “gentlemen’s society” (James 348). In her conversation with Winterbourne, she explained that she disliked Europe because there was no society, unlike was the case with New York where she had more gentlemen and lady friends. She appears proud of the fact that she has always had, “a great deal of gentlemen’s society” (James 348). The latter would explain why she was so comfortable conversing with Winterbourne on their first meeting, to the extent that the two made plans to visit the Chillon Castle together. Upon hearing the stated plan, Mrs. Costello, Winterbourne’s aunt exclaimed, “Dear me!” cried Mrs. Costello. “What a dreadful girl” (James 351)! Daisy did not abide by social norms, a factor that resulted in Mrs. Costello describing her as being completely uncultivated. In Rome, Daisy became the talk of the town because of her defiance of social norms to the extent that she scandalized the American community in the city. James (385) explains, “The news that Daisy Miller was surrounded by half a dozen wonderful mustaches checked Winterbourne’s impulse.” James’ main character was not the ideal woman. She was out to enjoy her youth and make the most of it. Regardless of the differences between Daisy and Editha’s characters, the two had little understanding of the workings of reality.
Editha secretly wished that George world enlist to go to war to prove that he was man enough for her. She failed to consider the negative implications that the stated decision would have on his life and blindly supported his decision to join the troops. On the other hand, Daisy chose the pleasures of life over her safety. She spent more time with Giovanelli, regardless of the implications it would have on her health. In Howells’ story, Editha had not experienced war. She knew no one that had been to war and did not intimately understand the subject. However, it fascinates her and she explains, “I call any war glorious that is for the liberation of people who have been struggling for years against the cruelest oppression” (Howells 317). Her description of war as ‘glorious’ displays her ignorance on the subject matter because it shows that she overlooks the implications that it has on both peace and the lives of the soldiers involved. Unlike George’s mother who had lost her husband to the war, Editha supports her fiancé’s decision without comprehension of its magnitude. As the older woman explains the circumstances surrounding Editha’s uninformed choice, she states, “You just expected him to kill someone else... I thank my God he didn't live to do it” (Howells 324)! In supporting George’s decision to follow the heroes’ path, Editha failed to account for both the short and long term implications army enlistment would have on her fiancée. Resultantly, she lost him to the war, soon after it started. To that effect, Santos et al. (5) explain that an individual’s decision-making process is an intricate one. It requires the consideration of alternatives and their possible outcomes, to ensure that the selected option is the optimal one.
In Daisy’s case, her ignorance results in her death. While in Rome, she chooses to enjoy the company of Mr. Giovanelli, a handsome Italian man whose background was questionable. Despite warnings from both Winterbourne and Mrs. Walker, she remained adamant. Daisy’s mother also cautioned, “Your friend won’t keep you from getting the fever” (James 359). Still, Daisy chose to spend time with Giovanelli late into the night at the Coliseum, regardless of the bad weather that was known to cause the Roman fever. Soon after, Daisy became seriously ill and died from the same disease that her mother warned she would catch. People’s opinions on how an individual chooses to live their life should not matter, but there is a reason why it is common knowledge that man is not an island. Popa (223) explains that it is crucial to ...