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Birth
Sor Juana was born on November 12,1648 in San Miguel Nepantla located near Mexico City -
Parents
She was the illegitimate child of Don Pedro Manuel de Asuaje (an officer) and Doña Isabel Ramírez de Santillana y Rendón (a wealthy descendent of Spanish colonies). Though her father wasn't present in her life, she was able to live a comfortable life throughout her childhood -
Music and Math
Besides writing, Sor Juana also took interest in many other subject including music. A treastie she wrote was trying to solve a problem in musical notions but this piece unfortunately was lost in time. -
Early Education
Sor Juana was born during a time where girls and women weren't allowed to receive an education but through her grandfather's library she taught herself how to read and write Latin to the point that she was teaching other children by the time she turn thirteen -
Lady-in-Writing
Sor Jana tried to get go to university in Mexico City disguised as a man but was unsuccessful. Through her parents she was able to get a position as a lady-in-writing for the colonial viceroy's court which earned her a reputation since there her knowledge was tested with theologians, jurists, philosophers, and many others present to witness her. -
Education Later On.
Sor Jana joined the monastery of the Hieronymite nuns where she kept up with her studies, read, wrote, and published all her life until her death in 1695 -
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is born
In 1669, she changed her name from Doña Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana to what it is now. Reason being is that she wanted to have a name where she can study freely whatever she wanted. -
Prawns of a House
Consider to be a prominent work of late baroque Spanish-American literature, "Prawns of a house is considered to be one of Sor Juana's most well known comedy. It's subject matter is about a couple who can't be together -
Love is but a Labrynith
Another comedy that took themes from greek mythology It was first shown February 11, 1689 in celebration of Gaspar de la Cerda y Mendoza -
Backlash from Monastery Authoritys
Sor Jana was critized for the amount of reading and writing she did by the Bishop saying she should focus on religion. She responded back by advocating for women's right to education, and authority. -
Sor Juana The Poet
After She became a nun, Sor Juana would continue her studies and kept on writing. Her most famous poem would be "First Dream" which "...recounts the soul's quest for knowledge". Other poems would be Soneto 173.
https://www.britannica.com/summary/Sor-Juana-Ines-de-la-Cruz -
Penance
Before her eventual death, Sor Juana gave up writing completely in 1693. She decided to go through penance, where any future action is repentance for her sins. Through this she sold all of her belongings including books, unfinished work, instruments and much more. -
Sor Juanas passing
At the age of forty-four Sor Juana passed away while treating her sister from the plague -
Contribution for Feminism
Because of her response to her criticism of not being an unacceptable nun, she became a symbol of feminism. Many or her works are interpreted as such as well a as her actions of a women of the 17th century from becoming a nun to choosing not to marry. -
Acknowledging Sor Juana
It took some time before Sor Juana got recognition but she is now is symbol in Mexico. So much so that she was on the 200 peso bill on was on coin 1988 and 1992. -
CORA
CORA (1993), short for Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse was first name Sor Juana Services for Abused Women. It was made to put forward Sor Juana message of women's rights and struggles. -
Modern Interpretations of Sor Juana
With her relevancy in today's age there has been plethora works done about her. From a telenovela done in 1962 to a theater production done by Helen Edmundson in 2012 called The Heresy of Love -
The Value of her Work
Around september of 2021, Spain official were able to get a hold of books by Sor Juana that were being action off and "...had an estimate of €80,000 to €120,000...". The books were recognized as historical heritages and given to Spain.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/31/works-by-mexican-writer-sister-juana-ines-de-la-cruz-recovered-from-auction -
Episcopal Church of the United Sates
They gave Sor Juana a feast day which is April 18 in the liturgical calendar. It honors influential people of the Christian Faith. -
LGTBQ Contributions
While Sor Juana have never been outspoken about lgbtq topics her life story still is a great inspiration for many. From her dressing up as a man to be able to attend school to choosing to remain single until her deathbed. Her tight friendship with countess Maria Lusia de Paredes has made speculations and inspired lesbian work such a portrait of her and Maria kissing made by Felix d'Edon in Mexico