Post date: Nov 8, 2016 2:55:46 PM
Throughout the letters between Abelard and Héloïse a common theme of temporal life vs eternal life emerges. Although Abelard lost much through his "sufferings," he has been freed "from these torments" through his castrations while Héloïse wallows with her bodily desires still (69). Héloïse draws more heavily in her letters from classical sources like Seneca showing her more earthly oriented thinking and only draws from biblical or Christian sources to show how she is sinful and lesser, especially since she brought about abelards downfall as it is "the general lot of women to bring total ruin on great men" (66).
Abelard seems more content with her position as a "bride of Christ" since her relationship with Jesus will ultimately being about abelards own salvation as Abelard and Héloïse are of "one flesh" (88). This is indicative of his concern with eternal life instead of his earthly desires. He is also cold in his disregard of Helpises own suffering and continued desire. This plays into the common theme of women giving their all, here and now for men, while men more easily discard their feelings and connections to women they sleep with. It shows how even though men are victims of women - like Samson to Delilah, Solomon and Job and David to women in their lives - women are weaker because they become attached to men in a way that prevents them from seeing divine mercy and the path God has given them.
Even though both Abelard and Héloïse reference classical works, they rely heavily on what Christianity tells them to judge their own morals, showing that even though their was a rise in use of classical works, it is with a decidedly Christian tint and is still full of misogynistic and racist ideas of how humanity operates.
Side note: everyone here at the polls is very interested in my synopsis of Abelard and Héloïse and most think Abelard is an idiot and find his castration funny in a morbid, sleep deprived way.
This is written on my phone so sorry for any errors or weird autocorrects. My phone prefers French to English right now and I don't know why.