“It is absolutely necessary to indicate the source of this elevation, namely, that the truly eloquent must be free from low and ignoble thoughts. For it is not possible that men with mean or servile ideas and aims prevailing throughout their lives should produce anything that is admirable and worthy of immortality.”
This quote is really striking to me, and I have to say I full heartedly agree. Just before this, Longinus is discussing how the sublime comes from a person’s soul, and that it even an idea, without literary expression, can be great depending on its source. But he also says that for a person to have a true soul, their entire being must be free “low and ignoble thoughts.” To me, this is saying that a person can never truly be separated from their work. Problematic behavior, even unrelated to the work, is tarnishing and takes away from the genius. It seems like he’s saying if you aren’t pure and true in all aspects of your life, then you and your work do not deserve to be remembered.
Which brings me to Woody Allen: a man of critical acclaim and a questionable personal life. Woody Allen is one of the most brilliant filmmakers of his generation. He is an artist and produces great work. However, he’s also been accused of molesting his step daughter from his marriage to Mia Farrow, in addition to leaving Farrow for their adopted, though legal, daughter. If Longinus was alive today and a part of the Woody Allen debate, I don’t think that he would be able to support Allen’s art, however sublime it may be, because his personal life would be unsublime enough that he wouldn’t be able to support Allen. Same here, Longinus. To me, Woody might be one of the greatest greats, but I think by ignoring the (extremely) problematic behavior, we are condoning it and saying that you can be a really serious fuck up, as long as you are good at something.
Society does that for a lot of famous male actors and sports players, and me and Long think that’s stupid and you have to work to deserve it. Immortality should not be handed out willy nilly. You can’t be conditionally sublime. You should work to be Truthful in all aspects of your life, and then receiving this immortality will be that much more rewarding.
