Final answer:
Daisy Miller's character in Henry James's novella can be interpreted as innocent, a victim of society, or responsible for her own fate. Furthermore, ethics can be seen as either a divine expression or as principles separate from religious influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether Daisy Miller is truly an innocent or if she's a victim of a cynical, hypocritical culture is a complex question that delves into the themes of Henry James's novella. Daisy's character could be viewed as naïve and devoid of guile, indicating her innocence in a society that is swift to judge. Alternatively, some may argue that Daisy is a victim of the strict social codes of her time and the expectations placed upon women. Yet another perspective is that Daisy's actions, which some characters in the novella perceive as flaunting societal norms, could be seen as contributing to her own downfall, thereby suggesting a level of agency in her fate.
In addressing the question of whether ethics are an expression of the divine or better understood separately, one encounters a significant philosophical debate. If ethics are seen as an expression of divine authority, then moral values and principles are inherently connected to a higher, often religious, standard. Conversely, if one views ethics as independent of the divine, ethics could be grounded in rational thought, humanism, or other secular philosophies that derive moral principles from a non-religious basis.