Daisy-Miller-Henry-James

HenryJames(1843-1916)DaisyMiller《黛西米勒》1878•Maincharactersandplot•Skills•ThemeCharacters•DaisyMiller--Arich,prettyAmericangirl•FrederickWinterbourne--AyoungAmericanwhohaslivedmostofhislifeinGeneva.•RandolphMiller--Daisy’syoungerbrother•Mrs.Miller--DaisyandRandolph’smother•Mrs.Costello--Winterbourne’saunt,awealthywidow•Eugenio--theMillers’guide,oftenreferredasto“thecourier”•Mrs.Walker--awealthy,well-connectedAmericanwidowwholivesinRome•Mr.Giovanelli--anItalianofunknownbackgroundandoriginsAnalysisofmaincharacters•DaisyMillerisawealthy,youngAmericangirlfromupstateNewYork.Sheisspirited,independent,wellmeaning,butsheisalsoshallow,ignorantandprovincial(心胸狭隘的)—almostlaughablyso.Daisyisalsoatiresomeflirt.Shehasnosocialgracesorconversationalgifts.Analysisofmaincharacters•FrederickWinterbourneisthetypeofEuropeanizedexpatriate（移居国外者）thatMrs.CostelloandMrs.Walkerthatrepresent.HelivesmostoftimeinEurope,makinghishomeinGeneva.HewantstobeabletodefineandcategorizeDaisy.Hedefendsher,butratherfeebly.HebefriendsDaisyandtriestosaveherbutultimatelydecidesthatsheisbeyondredemption.Plotsummary•BothWinterbourneandMillerstravelinEurope,DaisyMillerfallsinlovewithWinterbourne.OnceWinterbournebelievesinothers’rumourandmisunderstandsDaisy.ThenbeforeDaisycatchesfever,shetellsherlovetohim.Winterbourneregretsalot.•Inshort,thisisanovelaboutayounggirlwhogetkilledbythewinterinRome.•DaisyMillerwhichwonHenryJamesinternationalfameandwhichrevealsJame’fascinationwithhis“internationaltheme”.Jame’sInternationalTheme•Novelsaresetagainstalargeinternationalbackground,usuallybetweenEuropeandAmerica.•Novelsfocusontheconfrontationoftwodifferentvaluesystem.•Thetwodifferentcultureswithtwodifferentgroupsofpeoplerepresenting•AmericainnocenceinfaceofEuropeansophistication(老于世故).Thetwodifferentvaluesystem•Americanpersonalities:innocence,enthusiasm,vulgarity,ignorance,unsophitication,freshness,freedom,individuality.•Europeanpersonalities:over-refinement,degeneration(堕落),complexity,high-cultivation.•Americanheroesandheroines,whoconfrontedEuropeansophistication,eithertriumphedoveritorwereoverwhelmed.Theme•Tensionsbetween•EuropeandAmerica•TheNewandtheOld•TheConversationalityandIndividuality•AppearanceandReality•Innocence“it’sastoryaboutinnocence”,theauthorsays.•Thesadnessandsafetyoftheunlivedlife•Innocence•WinterbourneispreoccupiedwiththequestionwhetherDaisyisinnocent.•Thewordinnocentappearsrepeatedly,alwayswithdifferentshadesofmeaning.•Daisyembodiesallthedifferentmeaningofinnocencethatleadstoherdownfall.Skills•Over-elaboratestyle•Language:high-refined(文雅的),polished,insightful,accurate•1).Jamesianviewpoint(explainthesituationandcharacterthroughoneorseveralminds)•2).subtlety•3).possibilities--twistsandturns•4).richnessoftheplot•Construction:complicated,intricate•Psychologicalanalysis