Masters Reading Response to Daisy Miller

In Daisy Miller, the story takes place in Vevey, Switzerland and Rome, Italy. The narrator, a man only known as Winterbourne, is visiting his aunt who has a home in both places. She is a woman at the top of the society and she expects her nephew to acquaint himself only with those of his same stature. When Winterbourne becomes taken with a girl named Daisy Miller and her brother Randolph. The Americans are going to Italy as a little vacation and as a sort of medical necessity. The whole family has a disease called dyspepsia and the climate is easier on them. Italy is seen as a place where one can recuperate quietly, without being disturbed, and as a place where one can then do what they want. Winterbourne's aunt is recovering from headaches and she is never disturbed, wherever she goes. The Miller's mother is recooperating from her disease, and she hardly ever goes out, nor does she need to.
Her daughter, however, takes Italy as a place to live out this life that she imagines in America. She has a large gentleman society in America, and in Italy, she is able to be known as "the American flirt." She seems to like this idea. She mentions the moment when Winterbourne wants her to get into the carriage so as to not ruin her reputation and she laughs and does the opposite. Italy is represented as a place to be whatever they want. Daisy Miller wants to be chased, wants to have a slew of men after her but Winterbourne and everyone else to put up a fuss. She wants to be the center of attention, she wants excitement, adventure. Italy offers all of this to her. People hardly speak her language. They don't know anything about her, nor she them. Italy is her freedom.