In "Daisy Miller: A Study," Winterbourne always seems to miss Daisy's cues and flirtations. I just can't blame Daisy for pronouncing him to be so "rigid"...everything has to be so serious with him! This passage in particular drove me insane:
"Oh Eugenio," said Daisy, "I am going out in a boat!" Winterbourne, are you jealous that I'm talking to another man?
"Eugenio bowed. "At eleven o' clock, mademoiselle?"
"I am going with Mr. Winterbourne. This very minute."
"Do tell her she can't," said Mrs. Miller to the courier. After all, I'm much too lame of a mother to ever tell my daughter "no"!!!
"I think you had better not go out in a boat, mademoiselle," Eugenio declared. I have no mind of my own! I tell other people what they're supposed to hear!
Winterbourne wished to Heaven this pretty girl were not so familiar with her courier; but he said nothing. Of course, I am much too rigid and literal to realize that Daisy is only talking to Eugenio to make me jealous.
"I suppose you don't think it's proper!" Daisy exclaimed, "Eugenio doesn't think anything's proper." See Winterbourne? I want to be improper with you.
"I am at your service," said Winterbourne. Please go on the boat with me!
"Does mademoiselle propose to go alone?" asked Eugenio of Mrs. Miller.
"Oh, no; with this gentleman!" answered Daisy's mamma.
The courier looked for a moment at Winterbourne--the latter thought he was smiling--and then, solemnly, with a bow, "As mademoiselle pleases!" he said.
"Oh, I hoped you would make a fuss!" said Daisy. "I don't care to go now." I wanted everyone to pay attention to me!
"I myself shall make a fuss if you don't go," said Winterbourne. Panicking...does she like me? I like her...just like me back...please? (desperation)
"That's all I want--a little fuss!" And the young girl began to laugh again. Yes, that's what I want, do pay attention to me.
"Mr Randolph has gone to bed!" the courier announced, frigidly.
"Oh, Daisy; now we can go!" said Mrs. Miller. Get me the heck out of this awkward conversation!!!
Daisy turned away from Winterbourne, looking at him, smiling and fanning herself. "Good night," she said; "I hope you are disappointed, or disgusted, or something!" See you later...I hope I could make some sort of impression on the most rigid man alive!
He looked at her, taking the hand she offered him. "I am puzzled," he answered. Obviously, Winterbourne.
"Well; I hope it won't keep you awake!" she said, very smartly, and under the escort of the privileged Eugenio, the two ladies passed towards the home. Idiot!
Will Winterbourne ever learn? Unfortunately, he doesn't ever seem to catch on to Daisy's ploys for his attention, and he is just much too uptight, literal, and perhaps socially awkward to join in on Daisy's exchanges in the same way that other characters do. Is he the primary reason that things don't work out for the two of them? When I read past his point of view, it certainly seems that way to me.
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2 comments:
Carolyn, this made me laugh! You've got the meanings exactly right, especially with Daisy's interest in Winterbourne. In class on Thursday, we talked a lot about Winterbourne and how he fails to see Daisy's cues, and you've put that in his own (clueless) words.
This was a very creative way to explain Winterbourne's naivety. He realizes that she is American, and not like European girls, but he keeps talking to her like she's European. I thought it was funny how he kept thinking he offended Daisy when many of the things she said to him were offensive, especially in European culture. Winterbourne would not go telling Daisy that she is simply a flirt, but Daisy has no qualms about calling him stiff.
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