Show ERSKNE ERSKINE ON SCARLET LETTER hawthorner Haw masterpiece great in its universal theme tone ind and simple treatment th the greatness of the story lies in its fit u universal ni theme its elevated tone and the extreme simplicity of KB its treatment the theme is the effect of sin upon the soul boul that commits it espe dally of bf secret sin since dimmes dales experience makes the tal tale all the characters are noble as in a greek story strongly developed in themselves and holding high position in the Omm community so BO that their experiences are large and important as many critics have remarked like the herold heroic adventure of attic tragedy this resemblance of tone Is increased by the ibe sense of destiny and retribution in the romance dark and inexorable as ever the will of the gods was fm imagined agines by ancient poets it Is ie a kind hind of impertinence to 0 o speak of bt the technical greAt greatness bess of such a masterpiece as the scarlet letter ietter yet the reader would be indeed d tn thankless kless who failed to note how much of his bis pleasure Is in the colemn nin musical cadence with which the story moves the lofty manner extended even to the dialogues so that the varied characters speak alike in III a somber eloquence permissible in romance erskine Erek lne leading american novelists |