The Letters Of Abelard And Heloise

The Letters of Abelard and Heloise tells the story of two 12th-century French scholars and lovers. The tragic ending of their love affair leads both to take religious vows, one entering a convent and the other, a monastery. Nearly a decade after their separation, the two reconnect and begin to correspond through letters. Their letters reveal that Abelard has found peace as a monk, even though he is constantly embroiled in charges of heresy on account of his controversial theology. Though Heloise has become an esteemed abbess, she is deeply troubled inwardly by her lingering love for Abelard and her bitterness at their circumstances.

The book combines introductions by two medieval scholars who specialize in Abelard and Heloise; one autobiographical letter written by Abelard, which details his misfortunes; four personal letters and three professional letters exchanged by Abelard and Heloise; and letters following Abelard’s condemnation for heresy in 1141 C.E. This last set of letters includes Abelard’s final confession to Heloise and the correspondence between her and Peter the Venerable, Abelard’s protector. The book ends with hymns composed by Abelard and a brief scholarly discussion of a new source which may reveal more about the lovers’ early relationship. Though we still know very little about Abelard and Heloise, this book allows us to place them in their historical context and gives us a glimpse into their hearts and minds. 

The book begins with two introductions, one written in 1974, by Betty Radice, the translator and original editor, and the other written in 2003 by M.T. Clanchy, the second editor. Both place Heloise and Abelard in their historical context of 12th-century France and Christian Europe. We glean that Heloise and Abelard were products, and sometimes victims, of social and church politics in Paris and France at-large, and that both contributed to the volatile intellectual flowering, both secular and religious, during this time. Clanchy discusses some of the contemporary scholarly debates on Abelard and Heloise, some new and innovative approaches to the book, and potential new sources that add to our understanding of the lovers.

The letters begin with an autobiography written by Abelard in 1132 C.E., in which he details his misfortunes up to the age of 44. We learn about his early life, his love of learning, his scholarly career, and his seduction of Heloise. In an attempt to make amends, the two secretly marry, but this results in new conflicts with Heloise’s guardian, Fulbert. These convoluted conflicts incite Fulbert and his kinsmen to castrate Abelard. Following his traumatic castration, both Abelard and Heloise take religious vows and enter a monastery and a convent, respectively. From here, we learn of Abelard’s spiritual journey and his intellectual development as a theologian, including his many conflicts with fellow monks and religious leaders over his controversial theology. He reestablishes contact with Heloise when she and her nuns are pushed out of their convent. He gifts them with his oratory, the Paraclete, and the two begin to exchange letters.

The first four letters between Abelard and Heloise are grouped by Radice as the personal letters, and they reveal much about both characters and their mindsets a decade following their separation. Both are troubled in their own ways, Abelard beset by Church politics, accusations of heresy, and wayward monks, and Heloise unable to get past their history and her feelings of hypocrisy as a nun. In these letters, both vent their frustrations, and Abelard attempts to convince Heloise to find closure and trust God.

Their next three letters are grouped by Radice as the letters of direction, because rather than discussing their personal history, the two take up professional matters regarding their religious community and the Paraclete oratory. Here, they develop their thoughts on monastic life for men and women, and the role of nuns in the Catholic Church.

The last set of letters begins with Abelard’s confession to Heloise around the time of his condemnation for heresy in 1141 C.E. We learn that Abelard remains steadfast in his theology. The last four letters are exchanges between Heloise and Abelard’s protector, Peter the Venerable, the Abbot of Cluny in Paris, during the last months of Abelard’s life. We learn how Abelard spent his last months, how he was remembered at the Paraclete, and about Heloise’s preoccupations during this time.

Given that Heloise and Abelard were raised and educated in medieval France and came from families with enough means to educate them, their letters display their thorough higher education in the secular liberal arts. Both are knowledgeable in works from classical antiquity and regularly quote the philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome. However, given that we encounter both a decade after they have taken religious vows, and given that both studied theology, their letters most reflect their religious learning. Both constantly quote, paraphrase, and cite a wide variety of religious texts and are able to interpret and use these texts to make various points. They come across as serious philosophers and theologians.