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Period: Aug 13, 1521 to
Colonialism in Mexico
After the fall of Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Mexica Empire caused by Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés, México became a Spanish colony ruled by the Spanish monarchy. The Spanish rule lasted 300 years until Mexico gained its independence after the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba.
{https://www.history.com/topics/mexico/mexico-timeline#section_3](http://www.timetoast.com) -
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Legacy
Juana was credited as the official first published feminist of the New World as she gained new fame in the late 20th century, as a wave of feminism hit the western world. Nobel Prize winning author and poet Octavio Paz said that her poetry was the most important writing in the Americas. Also, The Mexican government honored her by inscribing her face in a gold medallion on the wall of honor in the Mexican congress. -
Juana Ramírez de Asbaje is born
Juana Inés is born in San Miguel Neplanta in Tepetlixpa, Mexico, which is now called Nepantla de Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz to honor her. She was the illegitimate daughter of Pedro Manuel de Asbaje who was Spanish and Isabel Ramírez who was Creole. https://www.biography.com/writer/sor-juana-ines-de-la-cruz -
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Early Chilhood
Juana lived in her maternal grandfather's estate in Amecameca until the age of eight. She was a prodigious reader who would often hide in the hacienda Chapel to read the books her grandfather had. In her adolescent years, she studied Greek logic and was even a Latin tutor for children. Also, she learned Nahuatl which is an indigenous language from central Mexico, and even wrote some poems in that language.
https://poets.org/poet/sor-juana-ines-de-la-cruz -
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Typhus in Mexico
The first case recorded of Typhus was in the year 1655; early evidence suggests that it originated in Europe, but it's unclear whether it spread from the New World to Europe or vice versa. Body lice transmit the disease, and it's known for its high mortality rate since of the unsanitary conditions back then. It affects the body with a rash that spreads through the body, and additional symptoms include bleeding into the skin, stupor , and shock.www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov -
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Sor Juana moves to Mexico City
Following the death of her grandfather, Juana was sent to Mexico City by her mother to live with her aunt at eight years old. She studied privately until the age of 16 when she was summoned to the court of the Viceroy Marquis de Mancera, where she began her service to the Viceroy's wife. At the age of 17, her intelligence was tested by the Viceroy who created a panel of scholars, the knowledge she demonstrated made her known all throughout Mexico. -
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is born
At around 16 years old her life as a nun began, due to her reluctance to get married and have an occupation that doesn't take away from her studies. She stayed for a brief time with Discalced Carmelites which are a Catholic mendicant order. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sor-Juana-Ines-de-la-Cruz -
Sor Juana moves Convent
Juana moves to Santa Paula of the Hieronymite order which was more tolerant and she stayed there for the rest of her life. Her Covenant allowed her time for her to study, write, and teach music and drama to girls in Santa Paula's school. Her role in the Covenant was accountant and archivist, she accumulated one of the largest private libraries in New Spain while in her cell. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sor-Juana-Ines-de-la-Cruz -
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The poetess and the vicereine
María Luisa Condesa de Paredes was the viceroy's wife and the muse of Juana and had over 50 love poems dedicated to her from Juana. Juana addressed Maria as Lisi in Juana's writing. One of the sonnets she wrote titled "I Love Lisi" goes.
I LOVE LISI, BUT I DO NOT INTEND
LISI TO CORRESPOND WITH MY FINESSE;
FOR IF I JUDGE ITS BEAUTY,
ITS DECORUM AND MY APPREHENSION POSSIBLE.
Juana clarifies her feelings for Maria but doesn't expect reciprocation due to the vows of purity Juana did. -
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Sor Juana's writing
Her sponsorship from the viceroy and vicereine of New Spain helped her be able to publish her works in Spain and even though she was secluded she was able to become the unofficial court poet in the 1680s.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sor-Juana-Ines-de-la-Cruz -
First Play: Inundación castálida (flood of Deucalion)
Her first play traces to a greek myth of Pirene's Fountain, the story goes that water nymph Pirene was struck with immense grief over the death of her son, Cenchrias, she turned to a fountain of tears with her essence which muses traveled to drink her water to get inspiration.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sor-Juana-Ines-de-la-Cruz -
Feminist Literature
Sor Juana's most famous poem was “Hombres necios” (“Foolish Men”) where she highlights the hypocrisy of the standards of women and men. Her views were seen as radical for her time, especially from her position as a nun she received backlash for not focusing on her religious studies, Juana was one of the first to publish feminist literature in New Spain
https://womenatthecenter.nyhistory.org/juana-ines-de-la-cruz-feminist-poet-of-new-spain/ -
Carta atenagórica (“Letter Worthy of Athena”)
Manuel Fernández de Santa Cruz, a religious writer, and bishop of Puebla published a critique made by Juana of Portuguese Jesuit preacher António Vieira without her permission. He also scolded that Juana should solely focus on religious studies.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sor-Juana-Ines-de-la-Cruz -
Respuesta a sor Filotea de la Cruz (“Reply to Sister Filotea of the Cross”
Sor Juana responded to the bishop within the autobiography sections goes over the obstacles she faced to get to the status she was in. She also defends her nonreligious studies by stating that learning human arts and science is crucial to understanding theology (study of religious beliefs). Also, she accuses the church of oppression of questioning the intellect of women and uses Biblical evidence to defend the intellectual rights of women. -
Church's Retaliation
The church responded by doing a secret episcopal trial on Sor Juana, for which she was found guilty. The investigation was started by Archbishop Francisco de Aguiar y Viejas, whose goal was to silence Sor Juana since she challenged the church's beliefs that limited the value of women in their religious society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgnxZSfB28 -
Sor Juana Stops Writing
External forces pressured Sor Juana along with her confessor Núñez de Miranda. She renewed her vows and sold her books, musical instruments, and scientific instruments in her library that she worked hard to obtain for alms. She punished herself and abandoned all writing and studies that were nonreligious. -
Death of Sor Juana
Sor Juana died while nursing her sister nuns during an epidemic that hit the covenant. The disease was typhus, Juana was 44 when she passed away. -
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Impact
Sor Juana was a woman ahead of her time who was deemed controversial for her ideas of gender equality in a society that made women subordinate to men and made way for feminist literature in New Spain. Her points on the patriarchy still stand today, with women still being affected by harmful beliefs that limit their potential in life and set them in standards deemed acceptable to men. https://www.britannica.com/art/Latin-American-literature
