Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana
- Born:
- November 12, 1648 (disputed, possibly 1651), San Miguel Nepantla, New Spain (present-day Mexico)
- Died:
- April 17, 1695, Mexico City, New Spain (present-day Mexico)
- Nationality:
- New Spain (Mexican)
- Profession(s):
- Writer, Poet, Philosopher, Composer, Hieronymite Nun
Early Life and Education
- Exhibited prodigious intellectual abilities from a young age, learning to read at the age of three.
- Desiring a formal education unavailable to women, she begged her mother to allow her to dress as a boy to attend the university.
- Largely self-taught, she amassed a vast personal library.
- Served as a lady-in-waiting to the Vicereine Leonor Carreto, Marquesa de Mancera.
Career and Major Achievements
- Entered the Hieronymite Order in 1669, providing a space for intellectual pursuits.
- Became a renowned scholar and writer, celebrated for her poetry, plays, and philosophical treatises.
- Her writings explored themes of love, religion, philosophy, and the rights of women.
- Defended her right to intellectual pursuits in her famous letter, "Respuesta a Sor Filotea de la Cruz" ("Reply to Sister Philothea").
Notable Works
- Poetry: Many examples of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz poems display exceptional baroque style.
- "Primero sueño" (First Dream): A complex philosophical poem.
- "Respuesta a Sor Filotea de la Cruz" (Reply to Sister Philothea): A defense of women's right to education.
- Los empeños de una casa (House of Trials): A comedy.
- Amor es más laberinto (Love is More a Labyrinth): A play.
Legacy and Impact
Juana Inés de la Cruz remains a significant figure in Latin American literature and intellectual history. She is celebrated as a pioneer for women's rights and a brilliant mind who challenged societal norms. Her works continue to be studied and admired for their intellectual depth and artistic merit.