We briefly discussed in class today the way that culture plays a role in the beginning of the novel, but one part that I found specifically captivating was when Winterbourne first mentions Daisy to Mrs. Costello, his aunt, and she calls her "very common...the sort of Americans that one does one's duty by not--not accepting" (14). This statement describes an exclusivity of culture; that one in a higher culture cannot accept or interact with ones of a lower culture. This interested me, because first off, James is writing from a very high culture, and one needs to be of a certain culture in order to travel to Switzerland and Rome as Daisy does. Therefore, I started thinking it was really just about a difference in society and culture between Americans and Europeans.
This concept is brought up a couple more times throughout the story, and Daisy's "commonality" is directly mentioned again when Winterbourne and she are on their way to The Castle of Chillon, "He had been a little afraid that she would talk loud, laugh over-much, and even, perhaps, desire to move about the boat a good deal. But he quite forgot his fears; he sat smiling, with his eyes upon her face, while, without moving from her place, she delivered herself of a great number of original reflections" (23). This is an interesting passage because it discusses the clashing between her beauty and her culture, in Winterbourne and Mrs. Costello's eyes. Then again it is followed by Winterbourne questioning whether he could have perhaps just become used to her "commonness" (23). This question proves that Winterbourne still values culture above her beauty.
Lastly, another example I found of this concept was once again when Mrs. Costello and Winterbourne are discussing Daisy and Giovanelli (Mrs. Costello continues to dislike both of them), and then Winterbourne agrees with his aunt and says, "It is very true...that Daisy and her mamma have not yet risen to that stage of--what shall I call it?--of culture, at which the idea of catching a cunt or a marchese begins. I believe they are intellectually incapable of that conception" (43). This statement seems to go beyond those of culture that had preceded it. It seems to say that not only does their cultural level define whether they are acceptable to be around, or that their commonness is lower than Winterbourne and his aunt, but it also says that Daisy is unable to attain any higher culture.
In looking at these quotations I wonder why James decided to depict the American culture this way, as he was born and educated in America (and then moved to Europe and travelled). What's interesting about this is that he must have started/have been a part of this American culture that he believes to be so low and unworthy. Thus he is directly contradicting his own story as he certainly had the ability to cultivate his own European high culture eventually.
Your mention of the ferry ride to the Castle of Chillon is, I think, very pertinent. It piqued my interest as well when I was reading this novella, particularly the portion of narration in which we're casually told Daisy is discussing "what metaphysicians term the objective cast" (375). It seems almost as if James is parodying the way people of so-called high culture discuss common conversations, but it's difficult to swallow when one considers the fact that James was indeed a member of this upper echelon. Anyway, it's interesting to see Winterbourne so captivated with this supposed vulgarity / innocence present in Daisy. It reduces him to an obsequious puppy dog for much of the story, trying to say whatever is right but always coming off too stilted, too, as Daisy frequently puts it, stiff.
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