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An Investigation in Abelard and Heloise: Can Love life be compatible with Intellectual Life. One of the most romantic stories of the medieval times is the love story between Peter Abelard and Heloise. Their relations became classic in the history of mankind. They were absolutely specific, because the history of their love came to our days through the perception of two huge personalities, two philosophers. They brought their love to our days through their own philosophic analysis as if they were testing their scientific theories on their own destinies. The history of relations between Abelard and Heloise found its revelation in the written works of lovers and Historia Calamitatum by Abelard.
Abelard titled it The Story of My Misfortunes. These works explain the basis of the relations between Abelard and Heloise. Abelard describes Heloise with the cold rationalism. He confesses that the most important feature of Heloise that attracted him was her intelligence.
The initial attitude of Abelard towards Heloise is described in his Historia Calamitatum. He is almost mocking at her uncle describing his simplicity and comparing himself and Heloise with a lamb and ravenous wolf 1. Abelard demonstrates the cold striving for a benefit when he describes the story of his movement to the house of Heloise uncle. It is difficult to define the Abelard's desire to move to the house of Heloise, thus becoming closer to her as love. It more resembles the egoistic desire of experienced scholar to get possession over a young girl. When he had thus given her into my charge, not alone to be taught but even to be disciplined, what had he done save to give free scope to my desires, and to offer me every opportunity, even if I had not sought it, to bend her to my will with threats and blows if I failed to do so with caresses?
There were, however, two things which particularly served to allay any foul suspicion: his own love for his niece, and my former reputation for continence. 2 It is very interesting to study the behavior of Abelard. He claimed to be a teacher for Heloise but there was nothing of a teacher in his attitude towards his student. In his talks with the Heloise's uncle he compares the woman whom he calls beloved in his writings with the woman who had cast down even the noblest men to utter ruin 3. It is interesting to note that according to Abelard he is more concerned for his reputation rather than for his love to Heloise. Then the question arises if there was real love between these two people. Abelard confesses himself that Heloise refused to marry him because she worried for his reputation most of all.
If it is possible to compare feelings and attitudes of these people to each other one may note that young Heloise shows more dignity and nobility than recognized scholar Abelard whose activity was to study philosophy, a knowledge covering almost all sides of the human being including love. The Heloise's arguments to refuse marrying Abelard explain her real feelings. Among the reasons of the Abelard's proposal to marry Heloise was first of all the fact he was forced by the Heloise's uncle and secondly, though he does not point it out directly, it was a desire to preserve status quo that was rather comfortable to him. Heloise shows her real love refusing marrying Abelard thus indicating concern for his freedom and future career.
There is some kind of a sacrifice in her decision. Later, after the birth of their son and their secret marriage it is difficult to understand a reason of their staying at the house of the Heloise's uncle. Young people constantly were abused there. As for the Abelard's decision of sending Heloise to convent and remaining himself at the house of her uncle, it is first of all difficult to understand in general and if we assume the decision was made regarding his beloved wife, in particular. No sooner had I learned this than I sent her to a convent of nuns at Argenteuil, not far from Paris, where she herself had been brought up and educated as a young girl.
I had them make ready for her all the garments of a nun, suitable for the life of a convent, excepting only the veil, and these I bade her put on. 3 At the same time it is difficult to understand the Abelard's staying at the house of Heloise's uncle after he sent her to convent. The attitude of Abelard towards Heloise sometimes resembles that of the hero of The Moon and Sixpence by Somerset Maugham towards his wife. The Maugham's hero who was the prototype of the brilliant artist Gauguin told about his wife who was the native woman from the local tribe she is perfect, she cooks my food and takes care of her children (the father of the children was the hero of the novel). The heroes of Maugham were the genius of post impressionism and the ignorant Indian woman; in this case the heroes are two highly educated people, philosophers. The attitude of Heloise towards Abelard is expressed in her letters full of real love.
These letters are true masterpieces of the literature. From the very beginning the entire letter is full of spirit of love, adoration and tenderness as well as devotion. Even her solitude in the monastery was one of the sacrifices of hers. And so, in the name of God to whom you have dedicated yourself, I beg you to restore your presence to me in the way you can by writing me some word of comfort, so that in this at least I may find increased strength and readiness to serve God. When in the past you sought me out for sinful pleasures your letters came to me thick and fast, and your many songs put your Heloise on everyones lips, so that every street and house echoed with my name 5. The Story of My Misfortunes by Abelard resembles the cold narration of the events by the 3 rd party witness as if the entire incredible story happened not to the author but to someone else.
The narration is somehow true, cold and cruel as if it is repentance for loosing the chance for love and happiness. The revenge of the Heloise's uncle to Abelard was, no doubt cruel and barbarian but what was the main concern of Abelard? In his Story he is worrying of his lost renown and does not pay too much attention to the destiny of his wife and a child and even his physical suffering does not bring him such disturbance as a thought of his lost fame. My incessant thought was of the renown in which I had so much delighted 6 But can love of Heloise to Abelard be considered a real love? She uses gentle expressions in her letters while addressing to Abelard, but could these feelings be called a real love?
It is possible to assume that the Heloise's love is some kind of adoration of a student by a teacher. For who among kings or philosophers could equal you in fame? What kingdom or city or village did not burn to see you? Who, I ask, did not hasten to gaze upon you when you appeared in public, nor on your departure with straining neck and fixed eye follow you? What wife, what maiden did not yearn for you in your absence or burn in your presence? What queen or powerful lady did not envy me my joys and my bed? 7 It is also possible to assume also that Heloise being acquainted with the Abelard's vanity just flatters him.
The letters of Abelard are written in didactic manner. It is difficult to recognize the tone of the letters as the letters to beloved woman and a mother of his only son. If, on the other hand, in your humility you think differently, and you feel that you have need of my instruction and writings in matters pertaining to God, write to me what you want, so that I may answer as God permits me. 8 While reading the letters of Abelard to Heloise it is difficult to give up thinking of the author as of an instructor who had tempted his student, was punished later and tried to pretend remaining a good teacher. Abelard and Heloise, or Abelard vs. Heloise?
Monk and Abbot made by force of the circumstances vs a woman really devoted to him and God. Vanity vs crystal love. Self confidence vs inspiration to knowledge. Impulsive talent vs hardworking. All these definitions are applicable to Abelard and Heloise. Abelard was worrying for his fame and he became famous.
He became famous for a love of Heloise. Even his Historia Calamitatum seems to be hypocritical because according to Charles Homer Haskins his Historia Calamitatum seems to have been written to prepare the way for his coming back, to serve an immediate purpose rather than for posterity. It shows nothing of monastic humility or religious vocation, but, on the contrary, is full of arrogance of intellect and joy of combat, even of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 9. There is some reason to discuss love and knowledge while describing the relations between Abelard and Heloise. Concerning Abelard it is his love to himself and inspiration to remain the unprecedented talent and educator on one hand and his utmost Narcissism on the other hand.
No doubt Abelard was of great talent, but this talent would be nothing without the Heloise's love. The Abelard's input into the philosophical science is huge, no doubt. The story of his relations with Heloise made her famous maybe no less than the talent of the brilliant philosopher. The story of love of Heloise to Abelard and the self assertion of Abelard via the Heloise's love resembles the life story of Gauguin narrated by Somerset Maugham in The Moon and Sixpence very much. The difference is that in case of Abelard he made his Muse famous. Maybe each genius needs his muse even in such a strange manner as in cases of Abelard and Gauguin.
Bibliography Peter Abelard: Historia Calamitatum, The Story of My Misfortunes, translated by Henry Adams Bellows, 1922, available at web Letter: First Letter by Heloise, (1101 - 1164), translated by A. S. Richardson (1884), available at web Heloise's First Letter to Abelard (1101 - 1164), translated by C. K. Scott Mon crieff (1925) Peter Abelard to Heloise by Peter Abelard, (1101 - 1164), translated by A.
S. Richardson (1884) Charles Homer Haskins on Abelard, from The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century (1927), available at web Citation: Historia Calamitatum, Chapter VI Ibid Ibid Ibid Letter: First Letter by Heloise Historia Calamitatum, Chapter VIII Heloise's First Letter to Abelard Peter Abelard to Heloise Charles Homer Haskins
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