Heloise (abbess)

The letters of Héloïse (1101-16 May 1164) and Peter Abelard are among the best known records of early romantic love.

Background

Though Héloïse (also spelled Helöise, Hélose, Eloise, Heloisa, Helouisa, and Aloysia, among other variations) is best known for her relationship with Peter Abelard, she was a brilliant scholar of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and had a reputation for intelligence and insight. Abelard writes that she was "nominatissima", "most renowned" for her gift in reading and writing. Not a great deal is known of her immediate family except that in her letters she implies she is of a lower social standing (probably the Garlande family who had money and several members in strong positions) than was Abélard, who was originally from the nobility, though he had rejected knighthood to be a philosopher.

What is known is that she was the ward of an uncle, a canon in Paris named Fulbert, and by the age of 13 she had become the student of Peter Abelard, who was one of the most popular teachers and philosophers in Paris.

Tragic events

In his writings, Abelard tells the story of his seduction of Héloïse and their subsequent illicit relationship, which they continued until Héloïse bore him a son, whom Heloïse named Astrolabius (Astrolabe). Afterwards, Abelard placed Héloïse in a convent in Argenteuil and secretly married her.

The accepted view is that Fulbert believed Abélard abandoned Héloïse, and, in his anger, wreaked vengence upon Abelard by having him attacked while asleep and castrated.

An alternative view is that Fulbert divulged the secret of the marriage and her family sought vengence, ordering the castratration of Abelard. Some have speculated that Fulbert may have been Héloïse's father, which accounts both for the unusual manner in which Héloïse was brought up (due to a possible illegitimacy), as well as the extreme measures Fulbert took to punish Abelard.

After castration, Abelard became a monk.

At the convent in Argenteuil, Héloïse took the habit and eventually became prioress. She and the other nuns were turned out when the convent was taken over by the abbey at which Abelard had first taken his monastic vows. At this point Abelard arranged for them to enter the Oratory of the Paraclete, an abbey he had established, where Heloïse became abbess.

Correspondence

About this time, correspondence began between the two former lovers. After Abelard left the Paraclete, fleeing from either persecution, he wrote his Historia Calamitatum, explaining his tribulations both in his youth as a philosopher only and subsequently as a monk.

Héloïse responded, both on the behalf of the Paraclete and herself. In letters which followed, Héloïse expressed dismay at problems Abelard faced, but scolded him for years of silence following the attack upon him, since Abelard was still wed to Héloïse.

Thus began a correspondence both passionate and erudite. Héloïse encouraged Abelard in his philosophical work and he dedicated his profession of faith to her. At one point, she tells him to share every detail of his life and not to shield her from unpleasantness.

Ultimately, after telling Héloïse of instances where he had abused her and forced sex, Abelard insisted he'd never truly loved her, but only lusted after her, and their relationship was a sin against God.

Some scholars consider he was attempting to spare her feelings (or his feelings, altered from disrupted hormones), but from this point on, their correspondence focused on professional subjects rather than their romantic history.

The "Problemata Heloissae" (Héloïse's Problems) is a collection of 42 theological questions directed from Héloïse to Abelard at the time when she was abbess at the Paraclete, and his answers to them.

Burial

Héloïse's place of burial is uncertain. According to the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the remains of both lovers were transferred from the Oratory in the early 19th century and were reburied in the famous crypt on their grounds ("illustration, right").

The Oratory of the Paraclete claims Héloïse and Abelard are buried there and that what exists in Père-Lachaise is merely a monument. There are still others who believe that while Abelard is buried in the crypt at Père-Lachaise, Héloïse's remains are elsewhere.

Cultural references

Literary

The Mark Twain book, The Innocents Abroad tells a satirical version of the story of Abelard and Héloïse.

In the novel The Romantic by Barbara Gowdy the two central characters take their names from Héloïse and Abelard (Louise and Abelard in the novel).

Poetry

François Villon's Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis ("Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past") mentions Héloïse and Abelard in the second stanza.

Their story inspired the poem "The Convent Threshold" by the Victorian English poet Christina Rossetti, as well as the poem "Eloisa to Abelard" by the English poet Alexander Pope.

tage and film

Howard Brenton's play "" premiered at Shakespeare's Globe in 2006. NamedRef|Globe|2

The film Stealing Heaven (1988) chronicles their story and stars Derek de Lint, Kim Thomson, and Denholm Elliott.

In the film Being John Malkovich, the character Craig Schwartz, a failed puppeteer, stages a sidewalk puppet show depicting correspondence between Héloïse and Abélard.

Music

The song Heloise by Frank Black from the Devil's Workshop album refers to this story.

The Lady Who Sailed the Soul by Cordwainer Smith refers to the lovers.

Other

The French luxury fashion brand Chloé has a bag named in her honor, the Héloïse.

External links

* [http://www.abelardandheloise.com/Story.html Abélard and Héloïse web site]
* [http://classiclit.about.com/cs/articles/a/aa_abelard.htm about.com article]
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/aah/index.htm The Letters of Abelard and Heloise]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime_20050505.shtml Abelard and Heloise] from In Our Time (BBC Radio 4)