James's Use of Punctuation in Daisy Miller

Hey Fellow D Blockers –

            Here is a quick overview of last class. We learned two vital things: Henry James was a psycho but an amazing and complex writer. Although he faked an injury to get out of serving in the war and threw his ex-lover’s clothes in a canal, James pioneered the writing style of physiological realism. In Daisy Miller, his use of punctuation, syntax, and settings of scenes were descriptive enough so that the audience can learn about the characters even without dialogue. James’s use of punctuation – a slew of semicolons and commas – illustrates the rapid speed of Winterbourne’s thoughts while on the steamboat. Winterbourne seemed to always be jumping from one conclusion to the next about Daisy Miller without ever stopping to breathe. James’s careful construction of syntax with negative constructions of Daisy and then positive realizations shows she is not fitting Winterbourne’s distinct categories of provincial women. Also, the setting on the water is an escape from society. The passengers’ views are always changing, reflecting Winterbourne’s inconsistent view of Daisy. The water is a symbol of rebirth for Winterbourne and Daisy’s perspective of each other as well.