English 101

Write a reflection essay based on the following prompt:

Sor Juana was a complex figure: a woman in a patriarchal society, a court favorite, a nun who once fired her confessor. Find passages from Sor Juana’s work that help explain or illuminate her cultural power. What do these passages suggest about the woman, her world, and her enduring legacy?

250+ words (not including direct quotations)

ANSWER

Sor Juana

Sor Juana is one of the most famous Spanish poets with great feministic quality in her writing. During the 17^th century, sexual inequality with regard to education access was not considered an issue but a norm. Women and men were given separate rights where men had been given the rights to be educated figures in the public while women were limited to being obedient and devoting their lives to religion and God. Women were only given two options religion or marriage. Sor Juana showed strong opposition to getting married and desired to avoid obligations that would eliminate her freedom to learn. Therefore, she joined the convent and became a nun.

In most of her passages, Sor Juana raised her voice to protest against the injustice that women in her place received. She defended herself and the women in general due to the hypocritical society. In her poem first-person statements in her poem, she expressed irony that existed in society. For instance, there was a character Dona Leonor who was extraordinarily beautiful and a learned lady but lacked even personal autonomy even in the choice of her husband. In another area, Sor Juana was subversive since she challenged patriarchy. In the 68 lines “Rendollina 92” Sor Juana has aimed at the impossible virgin/whore standard men and how they have historically judged women.

These passages indicated that women were inferior and were expected to uphold the domestic roles in households. Most of the women abided by this gender role as an aspect of social hierarchy. Through her passages, Sor Juana was able to demonstrate her extraordinary elements of the present women in a patriarchal society. Sor Juana was able to challenge the various gender roles and expressing her voice despite the fact she faced gender discrimination. Sor Juana has greatly inspired the feminist movements without giving up until her opinions and views were heard loud and clear.