Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz is a woman with many sides, I
believe. Her first passion in life was to learn. In studying her history, we know that
she did all she could to do so. She begged to be dressed like a boy so that she might
attend university, something only allowed to young men in New Spain (Mexico). When this
did not work, she declares herself mostly self-taught.
As
she grew older, Sor Juana realized that she had no interest in marriage, only in
learning, studying and writing. The only acceptable place for this to take place in her
society (for women at that time) was within a convent, so this is the path she chose,
taking her vows and entering a comfortable, yet cloistered
life.
The many sides of the woman included a brilliant
mind, a dedication to procuring equal educational opportunities for women, a social
advocacy regarding the misbehaviors of men against/with women, and dedication to her
faith. At some times—based upon research available, this order
appears to be how she defined her
priorities.
However, when studying her sonnets, I would
agree that a woman of contradictions emerges. I have only read some of Sor Juana's
sonnets as many are as yet not published in English. However, of those I have studied,
the first group is directed to religious subjects. Next, there are sonnets that are
dedicated to patrons: those to "Laura" mark the passing of a patroness and very good
friend.
Some sonnets are love sonnets. Having taken her
vows relatively early in life, this comes as a surprise, however without dates upon
them, I cannot tell if they were written before she took her vows or after. And while
she had no interest in marriage, this is not to say she did not fall in love before
coming a nun.
Other sonnets are addressed to the poor
behavior of other women in love; there are sonnets written to historical figures, and
those to dramatic characters. Another speaks to Pontius Pilate, while others are
philosophical in nature.
While some sonnets will reflect
things she has learned, still others seem to reflect another, perhaps hidden, side of
her personality. It is of the time she spent that we have no
records that a "different realm of her experience" may well have existed. As a nun, even
communications unknown would have made up this experience. And though we know she had
visitors, there were always bars separating them. Some sonnets may well be based on the
experiences of others, from discussions, correspondence and even her own
imaginings.
With so many years gone by, it is impossible to
know, but I would agree that some of the sonnets do not seem to fit what we know of Sor
Juana.
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