Four Meetings Analysis Essay Example

her freedoms, but in Italy, her cousin betrays her, which adds insult to injury. Even her return to America is tainted by the arrival of the countess, bringing a piece of Europe. “Dream” is a frequently used word to describe Ms. Spencer's eagerness to visit Europe, which is a recurring theme in James' works.

This is emphasized by the conclusion of chapter one, where he states: 'Everything' is saying much, but I understand your case," I returned. "You've the great American disease, and you've got it 'bad'--the appetite, morbid and monstrous, for color and form, for the picturesque and the romantic at any price. I don't know whether we come into the world with it--with the germs implanted and antecedent to experience; rather perhaps we catch it early, almost before developed (275) consciousness--we FEEL, as we look about, that we're going (to save our souls, or at least our senses) to be thrown back on it hard. We're like travelers in the desert--deprived of water and subject to the terrible mirage, the torment of illusion, of the thirst fever. They hear the plash of fountains; they see green gardens and orchards that are hundreds of miles away. So we with OUR thirst--except that with us it's MORE wonderful: we have before us the beautiful old things we've never seen at all, and when we do at last see them--if we're lucky! --we simply recognize them.

What experience does is simply to validate and endorse our confident dream. Some key points to consider are the level of uncertainty that James allows for in the mind of the reader. Instead of explicitly narrating the story's events, James concentrates on

shaping the mindset of the narrator, making it nearly evident what has been unfolding in the plot. By emphasizing the narrator's emotions and thought processes, James leaves little room for the reader to question the gaps and uncertainties in the plot. For instance, it remains unknown to the reader whether the cousin genuinely acted deceptively and abusively towards Ms Spencer or if that was solely the perception of the narrator. Likewise, it is uncertain if the countess truly holds noble status, but the biases of the narrator imply otherwise.

I agree with the conclusions presented in the text. However, it is important to note that my agreement with the narrator stems not solely from the obvious plot, but rather from the descriptions and psychological process employed by the narrator. These elements lead me to believe that these conclusions are the most logical ones. The main themes of this text revolve around international differences and the concept of a life unlived. Daisy Miller represents one of James's early explorations into a theme for which he later gained recognition - that of Americans living abroad or being footloose in foreign lands. During the years following the Civil War, there was significant interest in Americans traveling overseas. The emergence of a new class of American businessmen during this Gilded Age era led to their affluent families eagerly embarking on "the grand tour" to immerse themselves in European art and culture. This influx resulted in a clash between European and American cultures, as record numbers of Americans visited Europe for the first time. James himself had conflicting views regarding American character traits; although personally drawn towards European ways emphasizing culture,

education, and conversation.

He viewed his fellow Europeans as rude, uneducated, and excessively narrow-minded, oblivious to the vast and ancient world beyond their own expanding territories. Nonetheless, he found the innocent sincerity of the American national character captivating, as it emphasized genuine sincerity rather than artifice. In his later works, such as The Portrait of a Lady and The American, James would continue to explore the ethical implications of a naivete that, like Daisy's, cannot protect itself against the worldliness and cynicism of a corrupt society built on hypocrisy. The Melancholy and Security of a Life Not Lived If James had a recurring underlying theme, it was that of an unfulfilled existence. Throughout his novels and stories, characters fixate on abstract notions, ideals or ideas they believe they could grasp or attain if only they could dedicate their intellect or spiritual faculties to them with enough comprehension or patience.

Repeatedly, individuals come to the realization too late that they have missed out on understanding or accomplishing what they desired, or what they were waiting for. They have wasted their entire lives, similar to Winterbourne who never fully comprehends this. An interpretation of Daisy Miller can suggest that the concern over Daisy's personality is irrelevant and merely a distraction for Winterbourne from living his life. In this scenario, the core of the novel would revolve around Winterbourne's character and his fear or lack of passion, which leads him to avoid fully engaging with life. Instead, he focuses on the ultimately inconsequential dilemma of Daisy's innocence or guilt.