Critical Overview
Many critics seem to agree this story is a reflection of the Freud’s theory of “uncanny.” Critics say it is a revenge of the dead versus the dead combined with sibling rivalry. arthur is considered to be a Shakespeare of his time. In fact in this short story, he refers to perdita's appearance as Shakespearian poetic character. Other critics note that James is an admirer of Hawthorne, and that his works reflect Hawthorne's writing style.
Read more about this topic: The Romance Of Certain Old Clothes
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“His misfortune was that he loved youth—he was weak to it, it kindled him. If there was one eager eye, one doubting, critical mind, one lively curiosity in a whole lecture-room full of commonplace boys and girls, he was its servant. That ardour could command him. It hadn’t worn out with years, this responsiveness, any more than the magnetic currents wear out; it had nothing to do with Time.”
—Willa Cather (1873–1947)