Relationship Between Abelard And Heloise

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The letters of Abelard and Heloise tell of a romance that is one of the most famous in literature, however some may have to disagree. Peter Abelard, was a famous and controversial man. Abelard grew up the son of a minor noble family and declined to become a knight like his father, instead focusing on philosophy. Many people despised Abelard because of his wit and habit of embarrassing prominent thinkers. Abelard fell in love with his Heloise, who was a younger student of his, while he was living with her uncle, Fulbert. Heloise impressed Abelard with her knowledge of broad topics, which she was widely known for. Their love affair threatened to embarrass Abelard, and when Fulbert discovered their affair, they separated and met secretly. However, Heloise became pregnant with Astralabe, their son. Abelard married Heloise in secret. Fulbert revealed the marriage but Heloise denied it, then Abelard demands Heloise to turn nun, in order that no other may know the attractions he has enjoyed. Heloise willingly consents Fulbert was furious because he thought Abelard had abandoned Heloise and tragically had him castrated. …show more content…

Abelard would decide to go back into teaching and he opened up another school. Abelard was later charged with heresy at a Synod held in 1121 at Soissons. It was an infuriating and humiliating experience for Abelard. Afterward, monastery life continued to be difficult and. He withdrew to a hermitage, but when his students found him, he started a new school and monastery at Paracelete, which he ultimately had to leave and gave over to Heloise and her fellow nuns. This is when the letters between Abelard and Heloise began to be

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