Daisy Miller Summary

In the exquisite Swiss holiday destination of Vevey, a young American man, Winterbourne, crosses paths with Daisy Miller, a wealthy yet naive American girl touring Europe with her family. Having spent the majority of his existence in Geneva, Winterbourne is intrigued and captivated by Daisy's unorthodox behavior that breaks from the decorum expected of European women. Despite facing the disapproval from his aunt, Mrs. Costello, he decides to spend more time with Daisy and even accompanies her to Chillon Castle, a renowned local attraction, without a chaperone.

Winterbourne reunites with Daisy in Rome the following winter, only to be disturbed upon hearing rumors from his aunt about Daisy's new companions, renowned gold-diggers, and her becoming the talk of the town. He's particularly shocked by Daisy's close association with Mr. Giovanelli, a charming yet enigmatic Italian man, whose relationship with Daisy has left Winterbourne baffled and has drawn criticism from the American community in Rome, including Mrs. Walker, a prominent figure in the Roman high society.

Despite Winterbourne and Mrs. Walker's attempts to caution Daisy about the damage her conduct is causing to her reputation, she turns a deaf ear. Her deepening connection with Mr. Giovanelli and her inconsistent statements about their relationship status leave Winterbourne questioning her character. One evening, he finds Daisy and Giovanelli at the Coliseum, a malaria hotspot, and is immediately disillusioned with her apparent lack of self-respect. However, concern for her well-being prevails, leading him to reprimand Giovanelli and implore him to ensure her safety. Unfortunately, Daisy falls seriously ill shortly after and passes away. Before her demise, she sends a message to Winterbourne through her mother, revealing that his opinion of her mattered. A year later, reflecting on Daisy’s message, Winterbourne admits to his aunt that he committed a grave error in judgment and confesses that he has been living in Europe for too long. Despite this, he eventually returns to the familiarity of his past life in Geneva.