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Birth/childhood
Born on November 12, 1651 in San Miguel Neplantla, Mexico, was one of the 6th children from Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez was the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish father and Creole mother. -
education
As a female, she had little access to formal education and would be almost entirely self-taught. From a young age, she displayed an exceptional intellect and a deep passion for learning. Growing up on her grandfather’s estate, she taught herself to read and write by the age of three. She had access to her grandfather's library, which allowed her to study a wide range of subjects including literature, philosophy, science, and theology. -
Marriage
Juana Inés de la Cruz did not marry. In 1669, she entered the Convent of San Jerónimo in Mexico City, where she took her vows and became a nun. Juana's decision to become a nun was partly influenced by her desire for intellectual freedom and to avoid the constraints that marriage would have imposed on her as a woman in the 17th century. Her life in the convent allowed her to focus on her studies and writings. -
places lived in
Nepantla, Mexico was where Juana was born in the village of San Miguel Nepantla, she spent her early childhood there. Then in her teenage years she had moved to Mexico City where she gained the attention of the court for her intellectual abilities and later she went to the Convent of San Jerónimo in Mexico City, where she lived for most of her adult life. where she dedicated herself to religious life while continuing her prolific writing and scholarly pursuits. -
Health issues
In 1695, a plague hit the convent where Sor Juana lived. She died from the disease on April 17, 1695 at the age of 44 after caring for her fellow sisters.
Sor Juana stayed with the Carmelites for three months, but left because the strictness of the order caused health problems for her. -
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 -
first play
Her first play called Inundación castálida (flood of Deucalion)traces to a greek myth of Pirene's Fountain, the story goes that water nymph Pirene that 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. -
Most famous
Juana Inés de la Cruz, is best known for her play "Los empeños de una casa" (translated as The House of Trials). This comedy is a masterpiece of the Spanish Golden Age theater and showcases Sor Juana's wit, complex characters, and skillful use of language. The play weaves a story full of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and romantic entanglements, displaying her keen insight into human behavior and societal norms. -
Last Play
The last known play attributed to Juana Inés de la Cruz is "Amor es más laberinto" (Love is More a Labyrinth), which she co-wrote with Juan de Guevara. This play was likely written in the late 1680s. It is a mythological comedy that retells the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, infused with the complexity, poetic language, and wit characteristic of Sor Juana's work. -
Awards
Juana Inés de la Cruz did not win any formal awards especially in the 17th century, awards as we know them today were not common, especially in colonial Mexico. However sh earned the nickname "The Tenth Muse", highlighting her status as an exceptional writer akin to the classical Muses of inspiration. Despite facing challenges due to her gender and the societal constraints of the time, she secured patronage and support from the Viceroy and Vicereine of New Spain,provided her with opportunities -
Death
Juana Inés de la Cruz died on April 17, 1695 at 46 years old . Her death was a result of complications from a disease, likely typhus, which she contracted while caring for her fellow nuns during an outbreak in her convent, the Convent of San Jerónimo in Mexico City. Sor Juana's commitment to her fellow nuns and her dedication to her work reflected her strong sense of duty and compassion. Leaving behind a significant literary legacy that continues to be celebrated today.