IIRC, Abelard and Heloise started of having an affair. She was his student. Her uncle (and guardian) found out and sent her away to a convent. They continued the affair. She got knocked up, had the baby, then they married secretly.
After they married, the uncle castrated Abelard as a revenge sort of thing because he thought they weren't married or possibly that Abelard left Heloise (which he didn't).
The celibacy was forced at that point, but even beyond the physical intimacy, Abelard had some sort of change of heart due to the castration and thought he should be pure of mind and spirit which meant cutting Heloise completely out of his life. (This was a time when scholars and priests thought that just being near women would taint them and keep them from achieving intellectual and spiritual enlightenment.)
She tried to have a relationship with him and craved emotional intimacy, but he refused her.
She tried to have a relationship with him and craved emotional intimacy, but he refused her.
Some of her letters to him at this point are pretty interesting in a "fuck you, you goddamn quitter wimp!" way.
Some of her letters to him at this point are pretty interesting in a "fuck you, you goddamn quitter wimp!" way.
Yes they are! I read their letters about a year ago and it was pretty fascinating.
Such as, um, Malaysia?
Come back here you didactic corrector!
::throws red clay clod in the fleeing flea's direction::
This was a time when scholars and priests thought that just being near women would taint them and keep them from achieving intellectual and spiritual enlightenment.
They were right, you know. It's true. We have amazing powers. 'Cause we're pretty and smell nice. And -- boobies.
Not for nothing, but there are millions of men alive today who are terrified of the Magical Powers of Women. Even just looking at a woman could fuck you up!
Plus you could get muddy down there so close to the earth.
The only Magical Power of Women that terrifies me is the abilty possessed by ones in checkout lines ahead of me to agonize over insignificant purchases, misplace their checkbooks and ID, make small talk with the cashier, etc. while I have frozen food defrosting in my hands.
I have two nonfiction book recommendations:
Phil Dusenberry,
Then We Set His Hair on Fire
Simon Singh,
Big Bang
Both books are great reads, very interesting, and made me think about things in a new way.
