Burning hand

[coldfeet]

Was there a man who set fire to his hand because he regretted something that he'd done? This was either some Greek myth or in a classic text and I can't think where I remember it from or anything about the story other than he burnt his hand because he was sorry for something... I could have this all wrong. Apologies for my vagueness.

[Drusilla]

In 1556, thr former Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer was burnt at the stake by Queen Mary for heresy against the Catholic church. He had originally recanted and signed a document agreeing to live as a Catholic, but changed his mind. After he was tied to the stake he thrust his hand into the flames because he wanted it to burn first for betraying his Protestant principles.

[maxi29]

If you want a classical example, Livy tells the story of Cais Mucius who is apprehended in an attempt to assassinate the Etruscan king, Lars Porsena. To show his lack of fear at any Etruscan torture, the Roman sticks his right hand in a fire until it burns away. Livy reports that the king was so impressed with his courage that Caius Mucius is freed to go back to Rome, he is known as Scaevola, the left-handed. I remember having to translate the passage for my Latin O Level and it still sticks in my mind more than 30 years later.

But Drusilla's example of Cramner is a better example of someone actually recanting.

[Amelie P]

The fantatsic 2005 film - You, Me & Everyone We Know - has a bittersweet scene where the newly separated father sets fire to his hand in the garden to mark the occasion of the separation. Check out this film as it's a stroke of genius from actor, director and writer Miranda July.