Mikaila Garfinke
English 48B
Henry James
English 48B
Henry James
"Very likely they have never seen a man with such good manners, such fine clothes, so like a gentleman...He sits with them in the garden, in the evening. I think he smokes."
This quote is a part from the conversation about Daisy Miller, between Winterbourne and his Aunt, Mrs. Costello. They are discussing Daisy and her family, where Mrs. Costello informs Winterbourne that she frowns upon the family, and finds them to be unsophisticated, and thinks they try to be "upperclass Europeans", when they are really just Naive Americans. This excerpt particularly is Winterbourne's and his Aunts conversation about the Miller family's courier, which is a personal assistance usually hired to help with vacations. Mrs. Costello mentions how she heard, and is appalled by the fact that they allow him to eat and "hang out" with them, outside of work related time. She mentions how she ima
gines that the courier is probably more refined than them, despite him acting like their servant, and that they are probably awe struck by the idea of someone so "refined".
There were several reasons why this passage stuck out to me. The first thing, is that I noticed this reoccurring setting, of "the garden" and it struck some interest as to why this particular location kept popping up in this story. Gardens are usually thought of as a place of solitude, a tranquil place where there is usually beautiful flowers and sun, and a genuinely peaceful place. However, the things that happen in the garden, such as the Miller and Couriers relationship, or even Winterbourne's meeting with Daisy, are actions that usually strike gossip, or would be frowned upon by society. I think that Henry James uses this contrast of setting, and what is going on there, to show that even in the most "refined" places, unsavory acts still occur. Even an act such as a servant sitting with their employers is thought of as horrific. Something else that stood out from this excerpt is when she says "I think he smokes". I find it highly unlikely that they are concerned, or even aware, of the healthy consequences of smoking. When Winterbourne meets Daisy for the first time, it mentions him lighting a cigarette. Since Winterbourne is of high class, and it is apparent in other literary works, smoking is considered a sign of high class, because it is a luxury. Mrs. Costello is appalled by the idea that not only are the Millers striving to appear as if they are higher class than they really are, but so is their servant. On a symbolic level, smoke is also something that disperses, or disappears into the air. While it might be going out on a limb here, but he could be implying that the Millers and the couriers "false high class" is temporary, and that they could soon realize that their fantasy is like smoke, and will soon disappear. However, this could be looking too far into it, although, James is known for his subtlety it is said.
gines that the courier is probably more refined than them, despite him acting like their servant, and that they are probably awe struck by the idea of someone so "refined".There were several reasons why this passage stuck out to me. The first thing, is that I noticed this reoccurring setting, of "the garden" and it struck some interest as to why this particular location kept popping up in this story. Gardens are usually thought of as a place of solitude, a tranquil place where there is usually beautiful flowers and sun, and a genuinely peaceful place. However, the things that happen in the garden, such as the Miller and Couriers relationship, or even Winterbourne's meeting with Daisy, are actions that usually strike gossip, or would be frowned upon by society. I think that Henry James uses this contrast of setting, and what is going on there, to show that even in the most "refined" places, unsavory acts still occur. Even an act such as a servant sitting with their employers is thought of as horrific. Something else that stood out from this excerpt is when she says "I think he smokes". I find it highly unlikely that they are concerned, or even aware, of the healthy consequences of smoking. When Winterbourne meets Daisy for the first time, it mentions him lighting a cigarette. Since Winterbourne is of high class, and it is apparent in other literary works, smoking is considered a sign of high class, because it is a luxury. Mrs. Costello is appalled by the idea that not only are the Millers striving to appear as if they are higher class than they really are, but so is their servant. On a symbolic level, smoke is also something that disperses, or disappears into the air. While it might be going out on a limb here, but he could be implying that the Millers and the couriers "false high class" is temporary, and that they could soon realize that their fantasy is like smoke, and will soon disappear. However, this could be looking too far into it, although, James is known for his subtlety it is said.
20 points. Wow, really good reading here...I wish more of this had made it into your test!
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