I didnt understand how the official who was tarred screamed when he had a bit on his chest but barely reacted when it was tipped over his head.
Pretty barbaric but I'm sure he would have died instantly having boiling tar all over him
That truly was a disturbing scene but, like you, I felt the poor guy should have been in even more pain than what they showed.
shareA. Shock
B. No, he wouldn't have. That's just dumb. The human body has an amazing capacity to take physical punishment of the not instantly fatal type, and that's not an instantly fatal type.
The tar used back then would have been slightly above room temperature, if not exactly room temperature. It should cause no pain.
shareI'd read that suffering this kind of punishment could result in mutilation due to severe burns from the tar.
But apparently, you're right, the kind of tar they used at the time wouldn't have inflicted severe burns.
I suppose the John Malcom story was the inspiration for that scene in the series.
http://allthingsliberty.com/2013/12/5-myths-tarring-feathering/