Literary Annotation #2

Coffin, Tristram P. "Daisy Miller, Western Hero." Western Folklore 17.4 (1958): 273-75. JSTOR. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

            Daisy Miller is a western hero, according to Tristram Coffin. Though he admits that Daisy was not written with the west in mind, she developed the personality traits that identifies with western culture at the time. The western hero embodies the ideas of independence, morality, innocence according to Coffin, which he claims can all be found in Daisy. She is outgoing and independent, willing to rely on her own judgment and befriends young men in defiance to society. Daisy Miller can become somewhat of a role model to female readers. Though she lacks sense and maturity she teaches those to not be afraid to go against old society standards but to still maintain standards and an ability to ask for help or else suffer from Daisy’s demise.