Derek de Lint stars Pierre Abelard (1079-1142),
dialectician, philosopher, and theologian. Abelard was one of the great intellectuals of
the 12th century. He was the idol of Paris; eloquent, vivacious,
handsome, possessed of an unusually rich voice.
He is perhaps as famous today for his love affair with Heloise (1100/01-1163/4)
and its disastrous consequences, which resulted in her giving birth to son (called Astrolabe),
to Abelard's castration, and to both their retreats to monastic life.
The English veteran director Clive Donner was made the movie about this tragical love.
 oung Hélôise together with Bishop have arrived in Paris, to her uncle, who was called Fulbert. He is
greedy and ambitious, he has understood, that the beautiful and educated girl is the quite good “goods”. He
finds the fiancé for her, who is crude bumpkin from very rich family, but the unexpected circumstances
destroy his plans.
In Paris, in a Cathedral School in Notre Dame, which is opposite to house, where Hélôise live now, the
famous philosopher and theologian Peter Abelard hold the disputations. These disputations are angered the
Church of Paris, but Bishop feel a sympathy for talented theologian and protects him. However after a
impertinence of his students, when they have invited a harlot, that she would have seduced by Abelard,
Bishop asks him to change a method of the disputations and at the same time of lifestyle.
Fulbert, who know about the famous theologian, invites him for a supper.
Here Abelard looks fixedly at the young girl. At supper Hélôise was annoyes with conversation about her marriage and goes to a room,
Abelard comes behind her. Here he has become to ask on her general knowledge. Afterwards Abelard has
offered Fulbert to become the Hélôise’s teacher. Fulbert accedes to a proposal.
Abelard was enchanted by Heloise's beauty and her education. And instead of studying the philosophy and
theology they was making love. When Fulbert acceptes the truth of what was common knowledge and tries
to separate them, they took great risks and were finds him in bed together. Soon after, Hélôise finds, that
she is pregnant. She is happy, and wants to keep a child. She writes to Abelard and he removes her from the
uncle's house, sending her to Le Pallet, to the sister. She remained there with Abelard's sister until she gave
birth to a son, whom she named Astrolabe. Then Abelard comes to the convent again and offers to get
married. He already lost the reputation, but now he should marry, it was to give the greater Heloise’s
protection from Fulbert. And the priest married them.
But there is horrible revenge in Fulbert's heart. When Abelard comes back in Paris, his plan is possible.
Fulbert's servants broke into Abelard's room at the night and castrated him. Abelard writes in the 'The
Story of My Misfortunes': "They had vengeance on me with a most cruel and most shameful punishment,
such as astounded the whole world, for they cut off those parts of my body with which I had done that
which was the cause of their sorrow."
Abelard has thought, that the revenge was his punishment for sins and decides to become a monk. The
court of The Hurch has condemned Fulbert, Bishop drums Fulbert out of Paris. And Heloise became a nun
too. But she took vows not for love of God but for love of Abelard, she loved him alone. Abelard and
Heloise keep sincere affection and hold correspondence for many years. Heloise became abbess of the
convent of the Paraclette which Abelard founded.
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