Why is sor juana ines de la cruz famous

At the age of 17, 40 members of the University of Mexico questioned her on topics such as mathematics, philosophy, literature and history, and were astounded by her genius. Juana had no desire to marry, wishing instead to continue her studies; the only logical path for her therefore was to become a nun.

She lived very comfortably. Here, Sor Juana produced works of poetry, drama and prose, which were published extensively. In she retired from her glittering literary career, sold her library and donated the proceeds to the poor. The following year, she died after contracting the plague while aiding the sick. In actuality, though, this turning point in her life — presented by so many as a persecution — was integral to the image that Sor Juana herself wished to portray.

The final instalment was published five years after her death and, like the other volumes, was reprinted several times.

Each volume appears to present a carefully constructed image of Sor Juana, tracing her career — from court favourite, to nun, to saintly exemplar — with her works reflecting this progression. Within the posthumous volume we find her first biography, which was based largely on her own words.

This version of her life draws upon the well-established narrative of the saint who, having gained fame and fortune, decides to give it all up for a life devoted to Christ. As such, it would seem that her image was fairly contrived. However, the fascinating thing is that, to a certain extent, it seems to have been created by Sor Juana herself.

Few writers in the early modern period — men or women — had this privilege, and many did not live to see their writings in print. The fact that she influenced the creation of her posthumous biography demonstrates that, far from being broken down and put in her place, Sor Juana continued to shape her own image from beyond the grave.

So, why have these myths been created? The rest of her life she spent in atonement for the sin of curiosity. This weakened her spirit as she was then suppressed of intellectual freedom and felt abandoned by the people in her life. A few years later, in , Cruz was caring for her fellow nuns during a plague epidemic. As a result, Cruz was exposed to the plague and fell victim to it. Cruz spent the last part of her life caring for others, costing her own life.

During the 20 th century, Cruz was recognized as the first published feminist of the New World due to the rising interest in feminism. Cruz became a role model to women readers during the 20 th century as they were inspired by her writings. This represents the significance of Cruz centuries after her life. While Cruz expressed views ahead of her time, feminists have remembered her many years later, expressing the same views.

If Cruz would have lived during the time of these feminist movements, the end of her career likely would have had a different result.

From her childhood until the end of her career, she had a strong desire to learn, which was a unique characteristic of women at the time. She was not afraid to express her views, though it was unheard of at the time to do so. Through her various works, it is clear that Cruz wanted her voice to be heard by women suffering in a patriarchal society.

As a nun, expressing her radical views hurt her relationship with the Catholic Church. However, as a brave and strong woman, she did not back down until the last few years of her life. Today, she inspires many and stands as a national icon of Mexican identity. Cruz may not have been successful in her lifetime, but her legacy as a feminist remains important to this day.

Chasteen, John Charles Seigneurie Ed. De la Cruz, S. Second Critical Edition ed. New York: The Feminist Press. Accessed 29 Feb. Finley, Sarah. University of Nebraska Press, JSTOR, www. Accessed 4 Abr. Long, Pamela H. At age eight, after her grandfather's death, she was sent to live in Mexico City with her maternal aunt.

She longed to disguise herself as a male so that she could go to University but was not given permission by her family to do so. She continued to study privately, and, at 16, was presented to the court of the Viceroy Marquis de Mancera, where she was admitted to the service of the Viceroy's wife. When she was 17, the Viceroy assembled a panel of scholars to test her intelligence. The vast array of skills and knowledge she demonstrated before the panel became publicly known throughout Mexico.

Her reputation and her apparent beauty attracted a great deal of attention. Interested not in marriage but in the furthering of her studies, Juana entered the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites of St. Joseph, where she remained for a few months. In , at age 21, she entered Convent of the Order of St. In the Convent, Sor Juana had her own study and library and was able to talk often with scholars from the Court and the University. Besides the writing of poems and plays, her studies included music, philosophy and natural science.

Her small room was filled with books, scientific instruments and maps. Though accomplished, Sor Juana was the subject of criticism by her political and religious superiors.

In , a letter of hers which criticized a well-known Jesuit sermon was published without her permission by a person using the pseudonym "Sor Filotea de la Cruz. Sor Juana's reply, the now famous Respuesta a Sor Filotea has been hailed as the first feminist manifesto, defending, among other things, a woman's right to education. Her fervent reply was the subject of further criticism, and the Archbishop and others demanded that she give up any non-religious books or studies.