Heloise (abbess)
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The letters of Heloïse (1101–1162) and Peter Abelard are among the best known records of early romantic love.
Though Heloïse (also spelled Eloise, Héloïse, Hélose, Heloisa, and Helouisa, among other variations) is best known for her relationship with Peter Abélard, she was a brilliant scholar of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and had a reputation for intelligence and insight. Abélard 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 Pierre Abélard, who was one of the most popular teachers and philosophers in Paris.
In his writings, Abélard tells the story of his seduction of Heloïse, and their subsequent illicit relationship, which they continued until Heloïse bore him a son, whom Heloïse named Astrolabius (Astrolabe). Afterwards, he placed Heloïse in a convent in Argenteuil and secretly married her according to the wishes of her uncle. It was then that Fulbert divulged the secret of the marriage and ordered some of his acquaintances to castrate Abélard. Some have surmised that Fulbert was in fact her father, which accounts both for the unusual manner in which Heloïse was brought up due to a possible illegitimacy, as well as the extreme measures he took to punish Abélard. After the castration, Abélard became a monk.
At the convent in Argenteuil, Heloïse 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 Abélard had first taken his monastic vows. At this point Abélard arranged for them to enter the Oratory of the Paraclete, an abbey he had established, where Heloïse became abbess.
It was at about this time that a correspondence sprang up between the two former lovers. After Abélard left the Paraclete, fleeing from either real or imagined persecution, he wrote his Historia Calamitatum, explaining his woes both in his youth as a philosopher only and now as a monk as well. Heloïse responded, both on the behalf of the Paraclete and herself. In the letters which followed, Heloïse expressed her dismay at the problems which Abélard had to face, but also reprimanded him for years of silence offered to her; technically, Abelard was still wed to Heloïse. Thus began a correspondence both passionate and erudite. Heloïse encouraged Abélard in his philosophical work, and he dedicated his profession of faith to her. Ultimately, after reminding Heloise of instances where he had beaten her and forced her to have sex, Abelard told her that he had never truly loved her, but only lusted after her, and their relationship was a sin against God. From this point on, their correspondence focused on professional subjects rather than their romantic history.
The Problemata Heloissae (Heloise's Problems) is a collection of 42 theological questions directed from Heloise to Abelard at the time when she was abbess at the Paraclete, and his answers to them.
Her 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 Heloise and Abélard are buried there and that what exists in Père-Lachaise is merely a monument. There are still others who believe that while Abélard is buried in the crypt at Père-Lachaise, Heloïse's remains are elsewhere.
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.
Howard Brenton's play In Extremis: The Story of Abelard and Heloise premiered at Shakespeare's Globe in 2006. [2]
[edit] Cultural references
In the novel The Romantic by Barbara Gowdy the two central characters take their names from Heloise and Abelard (Louise and Abelard in the novel).
François Villon's Ballade des Dames du Temps Jadis ("Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past") mentions Heloise and Abelard in the second stanza.
In the film Being John Malkovich, the character Craig Schwartz, a failed puppeteer, stages a sidewalk puppet show depicting correspondence between Heloise and Abelard.
The French luxury fashion brand Chloé has a bag named in her honor, the Heloise.
The film Stealing Heaven (1988) chronicles their story and stars Derek de Lint, Kim Thomson, and Denholm Elliott.
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.
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