Part I, Section VII of Edmund Burke’s “A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful with an Introductory Discourse Concerning Taste, and Several Other Additions” is a piece detailing his personal view and definition of the sublime. His belief was that pain is unbearable when it is too near, but at a certain distance pain can become enjoyable. He also argues that there is no joy in the world that can overcome the greatest pain, and yet almost any type of pain is preferred to death.
Reading this piece with the theme of belief and religion in mind, we thought of how this idea might apply to a martyr. A martyr would not only endure pain for what they believe, but they would die for it. This contradicts Burke’s theory that “there are very few pains, however exquisite, which are not preferred to death.” A martyr would prefer death to the pain of denying their beliefs; Burke, however, writes that death is the absolute most frightening idea—it is the ‘king of terrors’.
Burke does write that “when danger or pain press too nearly, they are incapable of giving any delight, and are simply terrible; but at certain distances, and with certain modifications, they may be, and they are, delightful.” This definition of the sublime could very well define the other party involved in martyrdom: the persecutors. In the case of Joan of Arc, for example, there were many people there to not only witness her death, but to enjoy it as a show. Even today we study her life and death, and find it fascinating. In a sense, this fascination and interest can be seen as a sort of enjoyment derived from her pain.
Although martyrdom opposes Burke’s social theory, it is possible to argue for and against his opinion of death and pain. It is hard to know what we truly believe until we are facing death itself.
– L.G. & J.W.
Burke, Edmund. “A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful with an Introductory Discourse Concerning Taste, and Several Other Additions: Part I Section VII” Project Gutenburg. n.d. Web. 26 August 2012.
