English 015 - Americans Abroad
The American Stereotype
The American Stereotype
Category: 1E: Twain, James, Wharton | Andrew Plowman
The American Stereotype
A dazzling concept is to explore the perception of female Americans’ sexuality in foreign countries. This concept will begin with an evaluation of a foreign society’s stereotypical views on female Americans. Once this destined, promiscuous stereotype is clearly understood and proven we will evaluate rather or not these female Americans fall into its fiery grasp.
Mr. Winterbourne’s aunt, a woman of high social status, hears that Daisy, an American girl, is promiscuous before she has the opportunity to meet her.
“Then she’s just what I supposed.”[Mrs. Costello]
“And what do you suppose?”[Mr. Winterbourne]
“Why that she’s a whore”(p.22).
This concept clearly outlines the stereotypical standpoint of foreigners toward female Americans. Americans are forced into this stereotype without a choice because the idea is so engraved in their European culture, that American women submit themselves to the stereotype of being “flirty.” “Winterbourne remembered to have heard his pretty cousins in New York… called “tremendous flirts””(p.23). In direct correspondence to this preconceived notion, why should American women undergo the dramatic stress of changing their reputations? This foreign society has declared them as “promiscuous-party girls” and why make a drastic attempt to change the inevitable, sketched in stone, virtually untouchable, label carved upon them?
Roman Fever echoes this stereotypical, licentious concept when Mrs. Slade forges a letter to Mrs. Ansley from her fiancé, Delphin. Even though Mrs. Slade is American, she begins to believe her sex indulging stereotype by assuming that Mrs. Ansley would risk her life for the dazzling element of love.
As we look at these American women from the early United States, we only see them from an outside viewpoint; we skim the surface; we do not see the whole truth. By not being able to completely understand these women, we draw zero concrete evidence. When we dig deeply into the essence, which defines human character, we can only begin to view “true” life. It has been concluded that American women, entering Italy, or any other country for that matter, have a less than favorable reputation.
This aspect ignites the first piece of Daisy Miller’s falling domino effect. On the other hand, Roman Fever may not follow this crescendo pattern like Daisy Miller, but it does echo the supporting conclusion of love lost. Roman Fever follows Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope tactic by showing a one-sided battle eventually exploding into a ferocious struggle.
Now, a “true” foundation for this unrelenting stereotype is constructed from a firm foundation based on facts from our readings. Daisy Miller begins her downfall when she visits the Castle Chilliom with Mr. Winterbourne and shows no historical acknowledgement. “He [Winterbourne] saw she [Daisy Miller] cared little for medieval history … Miss Miller’s observations were marked by no logical consistency; for anything she wanted to say, she was sure to find a pretext” (p. 36). “No logical consistency” is evidence within itself that Daisy’s expedition was a call for status rather than in search of knowledge. Daisy was simply seeking to be in the spotlight, rather than enriching her mind with the history of Rome.
Daisy Miller later evolves into a misguided whore when Winterbourne’s aunt claims, “The young lady, however, is also very intimate with various third-rate Italians, with whom she rackets about in a way that makes much talk” (p. 39). Daisy is now seen as a whore, who is “flirty with any man she can pick up, dancing all evening, with the same partners; receiving visits at eleven o’clock at night” (p. 55). To echo this ground-shattering crash of the last domino falling, Winterbourne encounters Daisy at midnight in the coliseum, where she states, “I don’t care … whether I have Roman fever or not” (p. 77)!
The burning of a rose has a devastating reflection, yet it ultimately does reinforce the American-flirt stereotype. Roman Fever’s famous rope-a-dope parallels this stereotype. Mrs. Ansley knows she is outpowered when Mrs. Slade enters the arena and sees the need to let Alida Slade gradually break down.
Mrs. Slade’s first strike is when she initiates the “letter topic,” which almost drops Mrs. Ansley to her feet. Alida’s next psychological strike immediately follows “I horrify you” (p. 759). Mrs. Ansley then instinctively turns the table by regaining composure.
“And I write it. Yes, I wrote it! But I was the girl he was engaged to. Did you remember that?”
“And still you went?”
“Still I went.” (p. 59.)
This small excerpt from the book portrays Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade as shallow, vulgar, and manipulative. Although not processing any hero characteristics like Ali, Mrs. Ansley drains all information from Mrs. Slade and counterattacks with a final, crucial blow; “Well, because I didn’t have to wait that night” (p. 762).
Roman Fever, unfortunately also reinstates my stereotypical American view. As stated before, both Daisy Miller and Roman Fever ended in similar chaos with their worlds brought down in shambles.
Are American women who travel abroad flirty whores?
Are American women who travel abroad more inclined to let down their guard? Are American women who travel abroad different in their actions depending on their individual personalities? Are the women in these stories perfect examples of how American women should have been represented in the day, or is the “American stereotype abroad” a coincidence?
Posted by aplowman on October 02, 2003 at 02:20 PM