"The theme is the theme of humiliation, which is the square root of sin, as opposed to the freedom from humiliation, and love, which is the square root of wonderful"

Carson McCullers' quote explores the extensive psychological landscapes of humiliation and love, utilizing mathematical metaphor to deepen the understanding of these intense human experiences. She provides humiliation as the "square root of sin", suggesting that it is an essential element of misbehavior and ethical failure. The imagery suggests that beneath the surface of sin, whether personal or societal, lies the core experience of embarrassment-- an assault on self-respect that can result in further ethical decay. The square root, being a mathematical basis, indicates that embarrassment is an elemental, underlying reason for wicked actions.

On the other hand, McCullers describes love as the "square root of fantastic", representing it as the foundational component for the sublime aspects of life. This part of the metaphor suggests that liberty from embarrassment causes a state where love can grow, resulting in a life that is abundant and fulfilling. Love, when untainted by the corrosive effects of humiliation, engenders the best of human experiences-- generosity, understanding, and joy.

Conceptually, McCullers is checking out the dualities of human emotion and habits-- how humiliation and love work as oppositional yet specifying forces. While embarrassment breeds negativity, love is the remedy that raises the human spirit. This interplay highlights the author's understanding of humanity's struggle between sin and virtue. By framing her insight within a mathematical construct, McCullers communicates the precision and universality of these styles, echoing how deeply rooted they are in the human condition.

Eventually, McCullers' quote obstacles readers to review how their actions may perpetuate humiliation and, on the other hand, how they can cultivate love to transcend the common and accept the "fantastic". It's an invitation to recognize and pick beyond mere existence towards a life improved by extensive, intangible qualities.