Daphne and her problematic balancing act in The White Lotus
In the opening of the second season of The White Lotus, we meet a cast of distressed characters, each plagued by their own egos and dubious motives. Among them, however, one character truly stands out: Daphne. Despite her calm and cheerful demeanor, Daphne possesses a unique ability to disarm those around her.
Daphne arrives in Italy accompanied by her husband, Cameron, and another couple, Ethan and Harper. At first glance, she appears to embody the stereotype of a wealthy, privileged white woman, seemingly oblivious to the world outside of her own bubble. Daphne admits she can’t recall if she voted, and shows little concern for the current state of affairs. Her daily routine consists mainly of binge-watching Dateline.
Throughout the series, there are multiple instances where we share in Harper’s curiosity about the true nature of Daphne and Cameron’s seemingly idyllic relationship. We wonder if their conflict-free dynamic is simply a facade, concealing deeper issues lurking beneath the surface.
As the story progresses, Daphne slowly reveals more about herself, including her relationship with Cameron, her deep understanding of his motivations, and her ability to effortlessly navigate their interactions. Despite these revelations, we, like Harper, are left unsettled by the unshakable air of ease surrounding Daphne, and the secrets she continues to keep hidden from the world.
Daphne could’ve easily been a milder side character, a skewered caricature. But the more we see Daphne evolve past the trope of a rich, unhappy housewife, the more I find her strangely likable. There is an inherent power in Daphne’s perspective, one that prioritizes conflict resolution and cultivates inner peace during moments of turbulence.
As we delve deeper, we understand that Daphne’s character is deceptively layered, and we are left with an array of questions: How much does she truly understand? What motivates her actions? How many secrets is she keeping close to her chest? The multifaceted nature of Daphne’s character leaves us intrigued, and it is Meghann Fahy’s masterful portrayal that brings her to life on screen.
An excellent example of Fahy’s impressive acting skills can be seen in her scene with Ethan. In a matter of mere seconds, her freckled, radiant face conveys a range of emotions, including heartbreak, disappointment, and bitterness. She looks down, furrows her brow, stares out at the sea, and then turns to Ethan to reassure him that he has nothing to worry about. “You don’t have to know everything to love someone. A little mystery? It’s kinda sexy.”
In this brief moment, we catch a glimpse of how Daphne processes and acts on new information. While we never learn the details of what occurred between Daphne and Ethan on that island, we can glean some insight into her character. Daphne is not necessarily an ethical person, but there is a certain wisdom to her actions. She may not be content, but she remains largely unfazed during moments of distress, likely due to her recognition of the power and control she holds over her husband and their relationship. Daphne is constantly calculating and exudes an intimidating confidence that stems from her ability to utilize her sexuality to defuse tense situations.
At first glance, it appears that the men are in control of the power dynamics, but in reality, Daphne is the one deftly managing everything from behind the scenes. Despite her skillful maneuvering, however, an inherent issue is at play. Daphne has a tendency to suppress her feelings in an effort to maintain harmony and we all know the repercussions of repressed negative emotions.
