Is Illness So Innocent?

So, considering we are going to be developing the idea in our class presentation, I thought I would work out my simmering mental processes here. I am speaking of the short little speech on illness as a theme in Henry James “Daisy Miller”. First, however, a few general comments. Miss Daisy Miller is certainly a most interesting study but I am not sure if this is simply due to my masculine perspective which engaged in flirtation being acted out. For the two women I was discussing with found absolutely nothing of interest in Miss Daisy Miller’s character. Well to the illnesses shall we, there are three main illnesses that come to my mind as relevant; Mrs. Millers, the Aunt’s, and the fatal illness of Miss Daisy Miller. As for Mrs. Miller’s sickness, it is minor, but it is the way in which she handles the matter that is of interest. For though the mother is of a medium high social standing, she goes about with more discretion than manners, and is quiet awkward. When her son shouted out her ill state of dyspepsia, this, “instead of embarrassing Mrs. Miller, seemed to relieve her” (487). Thus, instead of Mrs. Millers sickness shaping her social behavior, she feels her sickness is relieved though society. In complete contrast Mr. Winterbourne’s aunt is the lady who always seems to be down with a head ache. She uses this as a social tool instead of finding relief for the illness though society. The Aunt will not meet Daisy Miller, using the illness to become exclusive. So before we see Daisy Millers character played out there is this dichotomy of the Millers and high society; sickness to be expressed and sickness to be suppressed even manipulated for the carriers sake. Now when we come to the climax of Miss Daisy Miller’s story, the theme is represented again. She is accused of asking for illness by parading around the streets at midday. While the ladies of polite society are sitting around napping and separating themselves not to escape illness but to moderate there own illnesses. Of course Miss Daisy Miller in the end falls ill with not just an illness but the “Roman Fevor”. To end then the use of illness in this study is intermixed and subject to the plays deeper themes of innocence and audacity.