marriage and love

The “Middle Ages” was the period of time used to describe Europe between the fall of Rome and the beginning of the Renaissance. It was a period of massive social change, rebellion, and conflict, which allowed for new ideas. During this phase, however, women continued to be inferior to the male gender, leaving their hopes and aspirations to nothing else but marriage. Unlike today, marriage was arranged and was solely intended for political or monetary reasons. Marriage for love was unheard of and women were expected to maintain their chastity in order to be respected. Nevertheless, the medieval ages gave birth to what is now the most romantic, yet tragic love story in history. The text became known as: The letters of Abelard and Heloise in which, Peter Abelard and Heloise tell the story and outcomes of their passionate teacher/student affair. The most prominent theme throughout this book was the continuous view on love and marriage between the beloved couple, which led to their separation. Although Abelard and Heloise were inevitably in love, the discovery of their love affair and the castration of Abelard were reason enough to modify their views on love and marriage.

In letter one (Historia Calamitatum) from Peter Abelard to a friend, Abelard confesses that he sought out to engage with Heloise since the moment he spoke to Fulbert regarding Heloise’s education. At the start of their relationship the couple seemed to be immensely in love and careless to what might come ahead. In an excerpt from, The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perception of Dialogue in Twelfth Century France translated by Constant Mews, we see Heloise as she expresses her passionate love, “ just as fire cannot be extinguished or suppressed by any mate...

... middle of paper ...

... In letter five from Abelard to Heloise, Abelard mentions the following: “as you were previously the wife of a poor mortal and now you are raised to the bed of a high king. By the privilege of this honour you are set not only over your former husband but over every servant of that king” (Radice 73). In this quote, Abelard explains that Heloise has become his superior given that she should be devoted to God only.

Marriage is no longer selfish act on Abelard’s part but a struggle of repentance. Now, he sees marriage as a sacred bond therefore Abelard affirms as he refers to God, “ He bought you not with his wealth, but with himself. He bought and redeemed you with his own blood” (Radice 86). In this case Abelard is hesitant to explicate that carnal love should not exist between him and Heloise but only exist in God, for it was God who loved Heloise truly not him.