Medieval Monastics

[lunabee34]

The Letters of Abelard and Heloise by Pierre Abélard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am rating this based on the introduction (which gives a good context for understanding the relationship between Abelard and Heloise and the time in which they lived) and the clarity of the translation (pretty readable given that they're writing in highfalutin Latin and quoting an ancient text every three lines) and not on the rolicking good time I've had while reading it. LOL I found much of this book pretty boring; unless you are super interested in the monastic life in the early medieval period (and the role of women in monastic life), I'd probably give this a pass.

Plus, it's really hard to see Abelard as anything but a jerk. As Siria says in her review of the book on this site, "Ah, Peter Abelard. The only person in history to have become more of a dick because he lost his dick." I know history has glommed onto these two as a kind of Romeo and Juliet, but their relationship is just sad. Abelard was a lot older than Heloise, and he used his position as a scholar to essentially insert himself into her household and start a sexual relationship with her. They eventually get married, but her uncle is pissed and has his servants sneak into Abelard's quarters and castrate him. Heloise gets shipped off to a nunnery and enters monastic life, not because she wants to but because she thinks Abelard wants her to. He pledges his life to god and becomes a monk and they don't see much of each other after that; certainly, they never interact as man and wife again.

Heloise's letters to him are so poignant and full of pain; she truly loves him and misses him and longs for their married life together. She's kind of like Dido just begging Aeneas to confirm that he ever really loved her, and Abelard is much like Aeneas in that rather than being vulnerable, he just coldly and logically dismisses her concerns and asserts that their lives are better this way. He's super happy God had his junk chopped off so he could learn a lesson about thinking with his private parts. Heloise should be happy too!

A good bulk of this book is the letter in which he lays out the Rule for the monastic community where Heloise lives (he founded it); it's fairly tedious reading but has some interesting moments (a fair amount of sexism and racism common for the time period here).



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Comments

[hermionesviolin]

I was recently introduced to the podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class, and one of their recent episodes which I had added to my to-listen list (before I saw your GR review) is on Abelard and Heloise. I had heard of them before, but I don't think I could have told you anything about them before reading your book review.

[lunabee34]

I don't think I'd know anything about them either except that I had to read this book in a Brit Lit class. When I studied in France, I saw their tomb in the big cemetery in Paris.

Thanks for the link to the podcast!

I just feel so sorry for Heloise; Abelard not so much.

[kore]

Ah, Peter Abelard. The only person in history to have become more of a dick because he lost his dick

HAH!

[lunabee34]

INORITE?

I wish I could claim that line.

[sallymn]

That cover is oddly familiar... I'm wondering if either I or Sis owned a copy back when we were studying...

[lunabee34]

You may have. I got it in an undergrad Brit Lit 1 class, so you might have, too.

[lyr]

Yeah, I remember adding Abelard to my "hit in the face once I build my time machine list" once I read their letters. The list is pretty extensive, mind, but he holds a definite place on it.

[lunabee34]

Oooh, that's a great idea for a list. I must begin compiling my own!