What is the purpose of Daisy in the novel Daisy Miller by Henry James? Why did James create such a fascinating and baffling character? Since the publication of James' novel in 1878, Daisy has worn several labels, including "flirty," "innocent," and "American Girl." Daisy's portrayal of a late 19th century American girl is evident. His free spirit and individuality reflect the social movement of the American middle class. The question of Daisy's innocence, however, remains unanswered. One of the most interesting aspects of Daisy is her distance from the reader. The reader is not given access to Daisy's inner thoughts or emotions. Instead, the reader must observe Daisy through the limited perception of her potential lover, Frederick Winterbourne. Although Daisy's psyche is a mystery, her relationship with Winterbourne reveals her true purpose in the novel. Daisy is a failed catalyst or agent of change. It offers Winterbourne spontaneity, freedom and love. In other words, through Daisy, Winterbourne has the opportunity to change. But Winterbourne rejects her and thus Daisy fails as a catalyst. Ironically, by rejecting Daisy, Winterbourne fails. One reason Daisy fails as an agent of change is that she is a member of America's newly wealthy middle class. Winterbourne, however, is a member of the Europeanized American class who is, as Ian F. A. Bell observes, "only slightly less 'nouveau' (nouveau riche) than the Mercantilist Millers" (Reeve 23). These Europeanized Americans, aptly represented by Winterbourne's aunt, reject Daisy and her family because they want to maintain their higher position on the social ladder. Ironically, Daisy Miller may have been accepted... half of the paper... publishers, 1990. Graham, Kenneth. Henry James: A Literary Life. Houndsmills, England: MacMillan Press Ltd., 1995.Hocks, Richard A. Henry James: A Study of the Short Fiction. Twayne's studies on short fiction. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1990. James, Henry. Daisy Miller: A Study. Heath's Anthology of American Literature. 3rd ed. vol. 2nd ed. Paul Lauter and Richard Yarborough. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. 452-92. 2 vols. Pollak, Vivian R., ed. New essays on Daisy Miller and The Turn of the Screw. The American Novel Series. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.Reeve, N.H., ed. Henry James: The Shortest Fiction. Houndsmills, England: MacMillan Press Ltd., 1997. Scheiber, Andrew J. “Embodied Narratives of Science and Culture in James's Daisy Miller.” University literature 21.2 (1994): 75-88.