English 622: Classical Rhetoric

With all of Longinus's talk about thunderbolts flashing forth and scattering everything, I just couldn't resist.

Right.

So Longinus's essay on the sublime clearly seems to put him in the "rhetoric as adornment" or "rhetoric as communication" camp. He's not so concerned with invention because WHAT you say is largely a product of innate genius whereas HOW you say something is where the rhetoric comes into play:

The effect of elevated language upon an audience is not persuasion but transport. At every time and in every way imposing speech, with the spell it throws over us, prevails over that which aims at persuasion and gratification. (77)

Furthermore, he says that

Our persuasions we can usually control, but the influences of the sublime bring power and irresistible might to bear, and reign supreme over every hearer.

Typically I think of the sublime as something aesthetic. As my handy computer dictionary tells me, sublime means "of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe." There's nothing in there about action or doing anything. It's just inspiring admiration. Yet, Longinus's quote reminds me of our discussions about "power over" vs. "power with." Clearly, Longinus's quote suggests that the sublime in writing results in "power over."

But wait, there's more...

At the end of "On the Sublime," Longinus talks about democracy and "being the slaves of pleasure" (102). Here's where things get wonky for me because he finishes this way:

Summing up, I maintained that among the banes of the natures which our age produces must be reckoned that half-heartedness in which the life of all of us with few exceptions is passed, for we do not labor or exert ourselves except for the sake of praise and pleasure, never for those SOLID BENEFITS (emphasis mine) which are a worthy object of our own efforts and the respect of others (102).

So what just happened? Is this still sublime as "power over?" Is this sublime as power over "praise and pleasure?" Is this Longinus saying, "I could go on all day but let's not forget that the sublime isn't real democratic or political action?"

If anyone can help me reconcile the sublime in terms of aesthetics/pleasure vs. power/action please do so. I especially welcome responses from those of you who love binaries (you know who you are).