St. Augustine's Philosophy and the Essence of Gothic Architecture

In the same sense that St. Augustine was able to present to us his philosophy, Suger's modified church gave us the Gothic style. Both of these revolved around the idea of Light. To St. Augustine, our bodies were similar to that of the allegory of the cave. It was a dark and sinful prison to our souls. These souls were the bright slit of light that was able to travel through the dark cave. It freed the souls from their prisons and led them to a perfect realm. This would be God's realm where happiness was eternal. This idea of an evil shell and a beautiful core would be what joins St. Augustine's philosophy with that of Gothic Architecture. The essence of Gothic Style would be Light. The large clerestory windows of stained glass welcomed the sun into the church. In addition to the biblical stories told in the windows, the beautiful colors of the stained glass gave a special effect towards what time of day it was (i believe, symbolic to God as the light and so as the sun came closer, the effect would change meaning one is closer to God). This sparkle is what compared to the beauty of the inside and the ugly of the outside, whether this was pertaining to a person's soul and body or the world of God in a church. This showed that through one's faith, they would be freed from their bodies and enter into a world of peace and happiness.