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Which of the following is NOT a recognizable theme in Henry James's Daisy Miller?

(A) Reality may differ from appearance
(B) Knowledge as evil versus inexperience as innocence
(C) Natural impulse versus cultured behavior
(D) Problems of communication
(E) American materialism versus European spirituality

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The theme not found in Henry James's 'Daisy Miller' is 'American materialism versus European spirituality'. The novella explores themes like appearance versus reality, innocence versus experience, natural impulses versus culture, and communication problems, focusing on Daisy Miller's character and societal perceptions. otpion e is answer

Step-by-step explanation:

The theme NOT recognizable in Henry James's Daisy Miller is (E) American materialism versus European spirituality. The novella focuses on themes including reality versus appearance, the idea of knowledge being equated with evil, and innocence tied to inexperience, as well as the contrast between natural impulse and cultured behavior, and the problems of communication.

These themes are explored through the protagonist Daisy Miller and her interactions with the expatriate Frederick Winterbourne, as well as through James's characteristic use of narrative perspective and an exploration of social etiquettes and conventions.

Daisy is often seen as innocent, but Winterbourne's struggle to determine her true character raises questions about whether she is a victim of societal expectations or if she has a role in her own downfall. The narrative chiefly follows

Winterbourne's perspective, which adds to the complexity of how Daisy is perceived and characterized, making James's writing a psychological study as much as a social commentary. The novella leaves its central questions unresolved, adhering to the Realist tradition of raising questions without necessarily providing clear answers. otpion e is answer

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