Week 15. Heloisa

Readings | Weekly Activities

The final author we will read in this course is Heloise, the wife of the French theologian Peter Abelard. Abelard was originally supposed to be Heloise's tutor, but the two of them fell in love and eloped. Heloise became pregnant and Abelard married her (they named their son Astrolabe!), but their marriage was condemned by their relatives. Abelard was castrated by his enemies and became a monk; Heloise retired to an abbey and lived her life as a nun. The letters between Abelard and Heloise are extraordinary documents of love and devotion; this week we will read one of Heloise's letters to Abelard.