SOR JUANA INES DE LA CRUZ
1648 - 1695
Reply to Sor Filotea de la Cruz
Rus Khamzayev
Jorge Toro
S O R J UA N A I N E S D E L A C R U Z
1648 - 1695
 Born on November 12, 1648
 Born into an upper-class family
 As a teen served as lady-in-waiting at the Viceregal court
 Achieved a reputation as “Tenth Muse”
 At the age of 3 years old she followed her sister to an all girl
school to learn how to read. (page 409)
S O R J UA N A I N E S D E L A C R U Z
1648 - 1695
 At the age of 6 she knew how to read and write as well as
household arts
 She cut her hair and dressed as a boy in an attempt to go to a
University in Mexico City
 Studied Latin grammar
 She had strong passion towards reading and Theology
 Wrote secular forms: lyric poetry and drama
S O R J UA N A I N E S D E L A C R U Z
1648 - 1695
 Besides the writing of poems and plays, her studies included
music, philosophy and natural science.
 In 1669, at age 21, she entered Convent of the Order of St.
Jérôme, where she would remain until her death.
 “I, Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz, the worst in the world.” singed a
statement with her blood after reaffirming her faith in 1694
 Died after nursing the sick in epidemic
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
 In 1690, a letter of hers which criticized a well-known Jesuit sermon
was published without her permission by a person using the alias “Sor
Filotea de la Cruz.” (Bishop of Puebla, Manuel Fernandez de Santa Cruz)
 criticizing Juana for her comments and for the lack of serious religious
content in her poems.
 Reply, the first feminist manifesto, defending women's right to
education.
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
 Apologizes for not taking up the stereotypical role of a woman at
that time
 Purpose for writing is to defend women’s rights to be educated
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
PA R T I
 Humble apology:
 “This is not pretended modesty, lady, but simplest truth issuing
from the depths of my heart…” Page 405
 “I other than an humble nun, the lowliest creature of the world,
the most unworthy to occupy your attention?” Page 405
 “I wish no quarrel with the Holly Office…I will be ignorant of
less. This is my response, and these are my feelings” Page 408
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
PA R T I
 Brief autobiography:
 “I was so inflamed with the desire to know how to read…”Page
409
 “…no cause for a head to be adorned with hair and naked of
learning” Page 409
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
PA R T I I
 Use of Rhetoric: End of page 410 – 411
 Knowledge of different subjects plays a big role in history
 Logic
 Physics
 Music
 Geometry
 Architecture
 Law
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
PA R T I I I
 Reference to Jesus Christ
 Relates to his persecution for his wisdom and vision
 “He excels? Then He shall suffer, for that is the reward for one
who excels” Page 415
 “I have been persecuted for my wisdom, but merely for my love of
wisdom and letters…” Page 417
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
PA R T I V
 Refers to great women in history
 Underlines their wisdom and achievements
 “I see many and illustrious women;…and an infinite number of
others, with divers gifts and virtues” Page 420
REPLY TO SOR FILOTEA DE LA CRUZ
PA R T V
 Concludes the letter by being bold yet respectful
 “…and if you find unsuitable the Vos of the address I have
employed, believing that for the reverence I owe you, Your Reverence
seemed little reverent, modify it in whatever manner seems
appropriate to your due, for I have not dared exceed the limits of
your custom, nor transgress the boundary of your modesty.” Page 430
TONE AND WRITING STYLE
 Theological polemic
 Smooth surface of her elegant prose, conceals both rage and determination to assert her
right.
 Uses justification
 Irony
 Asserts her unimportance, she illustrates the rage of her knowledge and of her rhetoric skill
 Interchanges her tone from submissive to controversial, highlighting her great knowledge to
underline her argument
 Contradicts herself how it is socially not accepted for women to be educated, yet she gives
reasons why they should be.
REFERENCES
 Historical –biblical historical references
 Biblical – Jesus Christ, Apostle, Father Saint Jerome, Moses (Page
416, 417, 406)
WOMEN’S ROLE
 Stereotypical household wife
 Life devoted to Convent
 Argues for women’s right to be educated
 Argues that men are not better than women
 The Enlightenment was about how people started to interpret the complex and
rich thoughts of philosophers
 The Enlightenment sparked the idea that women should be more educated, with
Sor Juana leading the way and eventually followed by Lady Montague
S O R J UA N A I N E S D E L A C R U Z
The End