Mrs. Walker Character Analysis in Daisy Miller

Another of Winterbourne’s American expatriate friends, Mrs. Walker lives in Geneva but also has a residence in Rome. Mrs. Walker initially welcomes the Millers into her circle as fellow Americans in Rome, but she soon turns against Daisy, shocked by her embrace of free association with Italians, especially men, and by Daisy’s refusal to let Mrs. Walker show her the correct way to behave. Mrs. Walker becomes the ringleader of the group condemning Daisy’s behavior and abandoning her socially. In some ways, Mrs. Walker seems to consider Daisy’s behavior a betrayal of the unspoken pact among upper-class women, who cling to the small amount of freedom possible within gender-based limits. That Daisy refuses to align herself with these expectations threatens, according to Mrs. Walker’s point of view, to upend the very foundation of their society.

Mrs. Walker Quotes in Daisy Miller

The Daisy Miller quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Walker or refer to Mrs. Walker. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

European and American Character Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Dover Publications edition of Daisy Miller published in 1995.

[Mrs. Walker] turned her back straight upon Miss Miller, and left her to depart with what grace she might. Winterbourne was standing near the door; he saw it all.

Related Characters: , ,

Page Number and Citation: 46

Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs. Walker Character Timeline in Daisy Miller

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Walker appears in Daisy Miller. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Daisy turns and declares that she’s been telling Mrs. Walker , the hostess, how “mean” Winterbourne has been. Winterbourne is a little annoyed that Daisy... (full context)

Daisy then asks Mrs. Walker ’s permission to bring a friend to her upcoming party. Mrs. Walker, turning to Mrs.... (full context)

...meeting Mr. Giovanelli. It’s the end of the afternoon, when many people are out, and Mrs. Walker doesn’t think it’s safe. Mrs. Miller agrees, saying Daisy will get the fever. Daisy smiles... (full context)

After fifteen minutes, Mrs. Walker pulls up in a carriage, her face flushed, and beckons to Winterbourne. She cries that... (full context)

Winterbourne goes to fetch Daisy, who seems delighted to present Mr. Giovanelli to Mrs. Walker . Mrs. Walker asks her to get in the carriage, and Daisy replies brightly that... (full context)

Mrs. Walker , her eyes tearing up, tells Winterbourne to get in: when he says he must... (full context)

Winterbourne tells Mrs. Walker , back in the carriage, that her earnestness has backfired: Daisy means no harm. Mrs.... (full context)

When Mrs. Walker marvels at how Daisy should have made a fuss about Winterbourne leaving Vevay, when they’d... (full context)

Mrs. Walker asks Winterbourne to stop associating with Miss Miller, but he says he likes her very... (full context)

...call at Daisy’s hotel, but she’s not home either time. On the third day is Mrs. Walker ’s party, where she has gathered several specimens of European society, whom she likes to... (full context)

When Winterbourne arrives, he sees Mrs. Miller, though not Daisy. Mrs. Miller tells Winterbourne and Mrs. Walker that she feels frightened to have come alone. Daisy is dressed, she says, but started... (full context)

...eleven o’clock, looking lovely, smiling and chattering next to Mr. Giovanelli. She goes straight to Mrs. Walker and introduces her to the Italian, saying his beautiful singing made them late. Mrs. Walker... (full context)

Daisy and Winterbourne begin to talk. She says she was shocked that Mrs. Walker wanted her to abandon Mr. Giovanelli and join her in the carriage the other day,... (full context)

...in the other room for the rest of the party. When Daisy prepares to bid Mrs. Walker goodbye, the hostess turns her back on Daisy. Winterbourne watches from the door as Daisy... (full context)

...acquaintances and seeing how they treat her coldly. Daisy starts to flush, and refers to Mrs. Walker ’s behavior the other night. (full context)