In the article “The Romantic Period” In order to understand Burke’s argument and theory, first it is important to understand the meaning of “Sublime and Beautiful” to their individual meanings. English dictionary defined Beautiful as impressing with charm, the intellectual or moral sense, through inherent fitness or grace. And it defined Sublime as something that affecting the mind with the sense of overwhelming grandeur or irresistible power; that inspired awe and deep reverence.

In Burke’s study, he stated that “Astonishment is that state of soul in which all its motions are suspended with some degree of horror”. Unlike Burke’s Astonishment could simply mean the highest form of sublimity in nature, in which we regard an object with horror and can only focuses on that single subject. It is impossible to overlook astonishment because our mind cannot control it. This is what he is trying to articulate in “Clearness and Obscurity” where he first discusses the ability of words and further on the importance knowledge in arousing passion. I emphases that clarity is achieved only through word which can paint anything and the painting which is supposed to fear the viewer can be said to provide sublime in term of Burke.

however, Burke’s also mentioned that power “where the chances for equal degrees of suffering or enjoyment are in any sort equal the idea of the suffering must always be prevalent.” An idea of power is very great and infinity which are considered source of sublime. One can strictly answer that pleasure or pain some particular people may find from the taste of some particular thing. From what I have experience, this could be because of the difference in knowledge. Thus, Pleasure arises when we recognize things we are familiar with.