Heloise d’Argenteuil (lived from about 1100 to 1164) was the founding abbess of the Oratory of the Paraclete, founded in 1125 in Ferreux-Quincey, France. An influential leader in women’s monasticism, Heloise of the Paraclete was a learned woman, a nun, and a writer. Early in her professional career, she took Peter Abelard as her teacher and her lover and then made him her husband. Academic scholarship is finally recognizing Heloise of the Paraclete to be an eminent thinker and leader in the Middle Ages and throughout all herstory.
Women’s competition with men impedes love. Heloise engaged Abelard in competition in writing. Willing to compete in loving, Abelard preferred just to love. … Read the post women competing with men prompts men’s self-abasement & weakness
Heloise of the Paraclete was famed within her lifetime for learning. Guibert of Nogent, no less learned but scarcely known, disparaged himself for his sins. … Read the post Guibert of Nogent in Heloise’s light: dark nights of internalized misandry
Mary of Egypt was a foremother to Heloise of the Paraclete in her extra-marital sexual experience, her erotic memories, and her thought on intention. … Read the post Mary of Egypt in the thought of Heloise of the Paraclete
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