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.
“If you can’t be chaste, at least be careful {si non caste, tamen caute}” was well-known medieval wisdom warning men about sexual relations. … Read the post still-relevant medieval advice for men: si non caste, tamen caute
Christian Latin hymns beautifully mix epic and ordinary, heaven and earth, in singing of Jesus’s conception, birth, and childhood with Mary and Joseph. … Read the post epic to ordinary: heaven and earth in Christian Latin hymns
Heloise preferred to be Abelard’s whore or mistress than be Abelard’s wife. She surely was wholly innocent of their disastrous marriage. … Read the post Heloise wholly innocent of disastrous marriage with Abelard
With her daring invocation of men’s literature of sexed protest, Heloise taught Abelard the boldness and courage he needed for his Samson planctus. … Read the post Heloise taught Abelard boldness and courage
Everyone today should listen attentively to the voice of the learned, articulate, feminine medieval woman Heloise expressing her love to Peter Abelard. … Read the post Heloise loved Abelard with a big-hearted feminine love