Gender Roles In Daisy Miller

Contemporary readers of “Daisy Miller: A Study” will be refreshed to discover that although the main protagonist of the story Winterbourne is a man, women play an integral part in high society Europe. These high societies consist of European and American upper class individuals that behave according to conservative gender rules. These gender roles dictate that women are to present themselves as docile and agreeable while still maintaining an image of virtue and sexual purity. Men are allowed the privilege of social freedom though they may still be subject to scrutiny. The older women, whom Winterbourne often defers to, are the gatekeepers of high society by concluding what is acceptable behavior and determining who is allowed into the inner …show more content…
He wishes to make sense of her and the first person he approaches is his aunt Mrs. Costello. After bringing up the Miller’s, including Daisy’s mother and brother Randolph, she tells Winterbourne that they behave in ways unbecoming of those of their status. Though Winterbourne is hesitant to accept that Daisy is scandalous he does assuage to the wisdom of his Aunt. “Winterbourne listened with interest to these disclosures; they helped him make up his mind about Miss Daisy. Evidently she was rather wild”(430). Winterbourne still has his suspicions on the innocence and intentions of Daisy but based on the word of his Aunt concludes that her behavior is unbecoming of both American and European …show more content…
Costello and Mrs. Walker who represent matriarchal authority is Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller can be described at lethargic and disinterested which is reflected in her parenting of Daisy. Winterbourne himself makes the observation after Mrs. Miller insists that Daisy go to the castle in Chillon unaccompanied. “Winterbourne observed to himself that this was a very different type of maternity from that of the vigilant matrons who massed themselves in the forefront of social intercourse in the dark old city at the other end of the lake”(434). This subdued mothering is not typical of the people making up high society. Throughout the story Mrs. Miller is aware of Daisy’s actions but makes no move to stop her. Instead she is passive and allows Daisy to make her own decisions despite if she believes them to be incredulous. This is noticed by the other matriarchs as well as Winterbourne. “Did you ever see anything so imbecile as her mother”(445). This is passistivity is seen as weakness by Mrs. Walker and a scandal within itself. Acting as the sole true authority of Daisy this leaves Daisy able to engage in these