Peter Abelard, who lived in medieval France from 1079 to 1142, was the husband of Heloise of the Paraclete. As a philosopher, theologian, logician, and poet, Abelard also has merit in his own person. Abelard was a dedicated teacher whose teaching encompassed the most important practical topic: love. Abelard loved women in general and Heloise in particular. He deeply appreciated women’s full humanity. He also understood personally the horror of castration culture. Abelard’s plantus on notable Hebrew women and men are some of the most imaginative, perceptive, and daring works concerning gender in all of literary history.
Jephthah’s daughter sought to be more honored than Isaac, son of Abraham. She thus urged her father to kill her, telling him to be a man and help women. … Read the post Jephthah’s daughter sought bigger name than Abraham’s son Isaac
Roscelin of Compeigne falsely claimed that Abelard bought sex from Heloise as if she were his whore. In truth, Heloise paid Abelard for his broad teaching. … Read the post Roscelin mischaracterized Abelard’s subservience to Heloise
Abelard’s Planctus Dine filie Iacob bravely challenges gender injustice. It movingly portrays Dinah’s loving lament for Shechem and the massacre of men. … Read the post Abelard rejected gender injustice in planctus on Dinah and Shechem
After Peter Abelard was hatefully castrated for consensual sex, he was unjusly disparaged for being castrated. Women must abolish castration culture. … Read the post hateful castration culture: castrated Abelard disparaged & demeaned
Peter Abelard gave his son Astralabe advice on cuckolding. Glyco’s response to his steward cuckolding him in the Satyricon show men’s difficult position. … Read the post now-unspeakable wrong: resisting cuckolding in medieval Europe