A emasculação intelectual de Heloísa (c.1101-1164) : as estratégias retóricas por trás das epístolas de uma abadessa medieval

Abstract

In the monastery of Paráclito, built in the 12th century, the abbess Heloísa (c. 1101- 1164) wrote two of her most famous epistles, which were addressed to her husband, Abbot Pedro Abelardo (1079-1142). Around the letters, common sense was built over the centuries that they dealt only with the love affair between the two. However, in the last decades of the twentieth century and the beginning of the 21st century, a new approach to them has been constructed. This new perspective takes into account the social, cultural and material context in which Heloísa is inserted and the possibilities that are, as it were, available to her. It is necessary to understand the moment lived instead of transporting it to the past in order to give an explanation for its writing. Heloísa in possession of the letter that narrated the calamities of Pedro Abelardo, wrote his own calamities in a tone of comfort. While he "languished" in his misfortunes she developed despite her punishments. Heloísa had two loves in her trajectory: knowledge and the philosopher. And we will deal with them.