Women in Medieval Literature: Analysis of The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
Women in Medieval Literature
February 20, 2012
Paper # 2 Abelard and Heloise’s Love Affair Love is a beautiful thing and when it happens, you hold it dearest to your heart. In The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, Abelard and Heloise’s relationship and letters discuss virginity, punishment, sex, and a woman’s role in society. This portrayed the religious and ethical views of the era as well as point out problems within the church and society. Abelard and Heloise are one of the most admired couples of all time, known for their love affair and also for the tragedy that separated them. They were both intelligent and very educated. Abelard was often at odds with the church because of his adventurous thinking and Heloise was strong willed. Living under her uncle’s roof, she falls in love with Abelard at the age of 19. Abelard wanted to teach Heloise so he convinces Uncle Fulbert to let him move in with them as well. As it is at this young age, the emotion and term of love is still in the process of maturing and it is difficult to control it. Because of how attracted and in love they were with each other, their sexual relationship also intensified resulting in the birth of a child. In the middle ages, women weren’t as free as women today. Women back then were commonly found in convents and places where they could build a spiritual relationship with God, not men. With the permission of Uncle Fulbert, Abelard asked to marry Heloise because once Fulbert had found out about them, he was very unhappy. At this time, having a child out of wedlock is an embarrassment to the family and women. Because their family members tied down women, this type of behavior would bring shame to the entire family. One writer Cristina Nehring says “The story of Abelard and Heloise hardly resonates with the spirit of our age. Not least, its origins in the classroom offend: teachers, we know, are not supposed to fall in love with their students” (Nehring, 1, NY Times). This seemed
February 20, 2012
Paper # 2 Abelard and Heloise’s Love Affair Love is a beautiful thing and when it happens, you hold it dearest to your heart. In The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, Abelard and Heloise’s relationship and letters discuss virginity, punishment, sex, and a woman’s role in society. This portrayed the religious and ethical views of the era as well as point out problems within the church and society. Abelard and Heloise are one of the most admired couples of all time, known for their love affair and also for the tragedy that separated them. They were both intelligent and very educated. Abelard was often at odds with the church because of his adventurous thinking and Heloise was strong willed. Living under her uncle’s roof, she falls in love with Abelard at the age of 19. Abelard wanted to teach Heloise so he convinces Uncle Fulbert to let him move in with them as well. As it is at this young age, the emotion and term of love is still in the process of maturing and it is difficult to control it. Because of how attracted and in love they were with each other, their sexual relationship also intensified resulting in the birth of a child. In the middle ages, women weren’t as free as women today. Women back then were commonly found in convents and places where they could build a spiritual relationship with God, not men. With the permission of Uncle Fulbert, Abelard asked to marry Heloise because once Fulbert had found out about them, he was very unhappy. At this time, having a child out of wedlock is an embarrassment to the family and women. Because their family members tied down women, this type of behavior would bring shame to the entire family. One writer Cristina Nehring says “The story of Abelard and Heloise hardly resonates with the spirit of our age. Not least, its origins in the classroom offend: teachers, we know, are not supposed to fall in love with their students” (Nehring, 1, NY Times). This seemed
Cited: 1) Mews, C. J., and Neville Chiavaroli. The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-century France. New York: St. Martin 's, 1999. Print. 2) Nehring, Cristina. "Heloise & Abelard: Love Hurts." The New York Times 13 Feb. 2005: 1-4. Print. 3) Radice, Betty. The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974. Print.