Research Article

The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum

Volume: 13 Number: 2 December 31, 2019
  • Ana İrimescu Morariu *

The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum

Abstract

In this article, I intend to use the struggle for recognition paradigm in order to provide a new interpretation of Abelard’s autobiographical letter, Historia Calamitatum, through a psychological analysis of the author’s personality and his physical and psychological traumata. My working hypothesis is that Abelard’s desperate need to be recognized as an exceptional human being set him on a course that led to an unsuccessful rebellion which, in turn, provoked some of the unjust acts directed against him in both his personal and public life. Unable to align his negative qualities with the (positive) perception Abelard had of himself, he systematically projected his envy and jealousy onto others. After several traumatic events, he felt stripped of his dignity and incapable of maintaining control over his life. However, the struggle to restore his good name led to antagonistic and inimical confrontations with others, and these confrontations produced more rejection time and again.

Keywords

References

  1. Abelard, Peter. Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Translated by John Hugues, 1769.
  2. Bellemin-Noël, Jean. Psychanalyse et littérature. Presses Universitaires de France, 2000.
  3. Cook, Brenda M. “Abelard and Heloise: Some Notes towards a Family Tree.” Genealogist’s Magazine, vol. 26, no6, 1999, pp. 205-11.
  4. Crusius, Jan and Thomas Mussweiler. “When People Want What Others Have: The Impulsive Side of Envious Desire.” Emotion, vol. 12, no. 1, 2012, pp. 142–53.
  5. Hegel, Georg W.F., Phenomenology of Spirit. Translated by A.V. Miller, with analysis of the text and foreword by J. N. Findlay , Clarendon P, 1977.
  6. Kenrick, Douglas T., et al.. “Renovating the Pyramid of Needs: Contemporary Extensions Built upon Ancient Foundations.” Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 5, 2010, pp. 292–314.
  7. Kojève, Alexandre. Introduction à la lecture de Hegel, Gallimard, 1967.
  8. Laitinen, Arto. “On the Scope of ‘Recognition:’ The Role of Adequate Regard and Mutuality.” The Philosophy of Recognition. Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, edited by C. Schmidt am Busch and C. Zurn, Lexington Books, 2010, pp. 319–342.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Literary Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ana İrimescu Morariu * This is me
France

Publication Date

December 31, 2019

Submission Date

June 27, 2019

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2019 Volume: 13 Number: 2

APA
Morariu, A. İ. (2019). The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum. Cankaya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(2), 205-219. https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP
AMA
1.Morariu Aİ. The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum. CUJHSS. 2019;13(2):205-219. https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP
Chicago
Morariu, Ana İrimescu. 2019. “The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia Calamitatum”. Cankaya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 13 (2): 205-19. https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP.
EndNote
Morariu Aİ (December 1, 2019) The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum. Cankaya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 13 2 205–219.
IEEE
[1]A. İ. Morariu, “The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum”, CUJHSS, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 205–219, Dec. 2019, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP
ISNAD
Morariu, Ana İrimescu. “The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia Calamitatum”. Cankaya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 13/2 (December 1, 2019): 205-219. https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP.
JAMA
1.Morariu Aİ. The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum. CUJHSS. 2019;13:205–219.
MLA
Morariu, Ana İrimescu. “The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia Calamitatum”. Cankaya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 13, no. 2, Dec. 2019, pp. 205-19, https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP.
Vancouver
1.Ana İrimescu Morariu. The Failed Struggle for Recognition in Peter Abelard’s Autobiographical Letter Historia calamitatum. CUJHSS [Internet]. 2019 Dec. 1;13(2):205-19. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88XD64ZP

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