Conventionality vs Instinct in Daisy Miller and The Awakening Essay

total heat Jamess Daisy miller and Kate Chopins The Awakening were first published pirate flag years apart, the former in 1878 and the latter in 1899. Despite the counterpane of more than two decades, however, the two works evince a law of similarity of thought and intent that is immediately evident in their main themes. twain works display characters whose lives have been governed almost solely by the conventions of their various(prenominal) societies. Furthermore, both works also attempt to demonstrate to the reader what happens when these conventions atomic number 18 challenged by individual understandings, which more often than not are in direct contradiction to the dictates of convention.The theme of conventionality versus instinct predominates both works. In Daisy Miller the theme is embodied in the character of Frederick Winterbourne, an ex-patriot American financial backing in Europe. The Awakenings Edna Pontellier serves as the means through which Kate Cho pin examines her version of this theme. Both Winterbourne and Edna are trapped in conventional worlds, and both are affected by a deep, instinctive need to break free of the bonds that restrain them so absolutely.The portrayal of this theme, however, is accomplished in different ways by Henry James and Kate Chopin. The main reason for this is that although the theme is common to both works, the protagonists possess of it are not. Conventionality has entrapped them in different ways, and their instinctive reactions arise egress of differing circumstances.Frederick Winterbourne, for example, comes to a realization of his internal struggle between conventionality and instinct not in and of himself, but because of Miss Daisy Miller. Winterbourne meets the young Miss Miller in Vevay, Switzerland, while v... ...life, a life where her instincts hold ultimate sway. so far the theme in both works is similar in superstar way. For, while the weight of judgement does fall against the ex-pat riots in Daisy Miller, we realize that they are not wholly in the wrong, for they do recognize Giovanelli for what he is. And although we eulogy Daisy for her refusal to submit to their conventions, we realize that she was not needs perfectly correct in ignoring all of the conventions. Similarly, we praise Edna for breaking free from the conventions that a patriarchal nine forced upon her. In the end, however, she is forced to leave that world, since she cannot accept any of its conventions. The received theme in both Daisy Miller and The Awakening, then, is not that it is better to urge convention and live by instinct, but that life must necessarily be a synthesis of convention and instinct.