Mrs Miller: Inadequate MotherAn essay on Daisy Miller by Henry James

It was just the other day that I observed a mother having difficulty with her child, a five-year old boy who was in the midst of a temper tantrum in the supermarket. The mother stood there, frustrated by the child who was lying on the floor kicking and thrashing about as he screamed for some prized goodie. Not wanting to add embarrassment to her situation, I proceeded down the aisle. But as I walked, I questioned the outcome of the situation. If the mother denied the boy the treat, he would become twice as upset. For the moment it would seem like a mistake, but in the long run it would teach him that obnoxious displays are not the way to get what you want. If the mother happened to give in to his action to quickly calm him, he would learn that this is the way to get what one wants. Either outcome relies heavily on the mother’s action. This situation strikes a similarity to one found in the short story by Henry James. In James’ story, Daisy Miller: a Study, Daisy’s beha...