History's "worst" nun - Theresa A. Yugar

Summary

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje, known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, was a 17th-century Mexican nun and polymath who defied societal norms to pursue knowledge. Born out of wedlock, she excelled in education and intellectual debates, becoming a celebrated figure in the royal court. Despite facing censorship and losing her prestige, Sor Juana remained a staunch advocate for women's intellect, leaving a lasting impact as the first recognized feminist in the Americas.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Juana Ramírez de Asbaje, known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, was a 17th-century intellectual prodigy who astounded theologians, jurists, and mathematicians with her knowledge.
• 🏛 She was born out of wedlock in a stratified class system in Mexico, which was a Spanish colony with a complex social hierarchy.
• 👧 Raised by her mother, Doña Isabel, Juana was inspired by her strong example and access to her grandfather's library, leading to her early mastery of various subjects.
• 🚫 Despite her intelligence, higher education was not accessible to women, so Juana sought knowledge through alternative means, such as attending school in disguise.
• 🎭 Juana's literary and philosophical works drew attention and controversy, particularly her poem 'Foolish Men,' which criticized sexist double standards.
• 💍 She received numerous marriage proposals but prioritized knowledge over matrimony, choosing to pursue intellectual independence.
• 🏰 At the age of 20, Juana entered the Hieronymite Convent of Santa Paula, where she continued to write and contribute to various fields of knowledge.
• 📚 Sor Juana amassed a significant library and engaged with prominent scholars, while also serving as a treasurer and archivist within the convent.
• 🤬 Her outspokenness led to conflict with the Church, culminating in a bishop's public admonishment and the Archbishop of Mexico's intervention.
• 📖 After being forced to sell her books and cease writing, Sor Juana defiantly renewed her vows, signing them with the phrase 'I, the worst of all,' in her own blood.
• 🏆 Posthumously, Sor Juana is celebrated as the first feminist in the Americas and is featured on Mexico's 200-peso banknote, with her work influencing history itself.

Q & A

Who was Juana Ramírez de Asbaje and what was her significance in history?

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje, also known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, was a 17th-century Mexican nun, writer, and intellectual. She is recognized as the first feminist in the Americas and is celebrated for her extensive knowledge in various fields including theology, philosophy, and mathematics.

What was the social context of Mexico during Juana's time?

During Juana's time, Mexico was a Spanish colony with a complex and stratified class system. Her maternal grandparents were born in Spain, which placed them in a high social class, but Juana was born out of wedlock, which affected her social standing.

How did Juana's upbringing influence her pursuit of knowledge?

Juana's upbringing, particularly her mother's example of managing an estate despite illiteracy and societal misogyny, inspired her confidence. Denied formal education due to her gender, she educated herself in her grandfather's library, mastering philosophical debate, Latin, and Nahuatl.

Why did Juana choose to enter the Church?

Juana chose to enter the Church to retain her independence and respectability while remaining unmarried. The Church, despite the influence of the Spanish Inquisition, provided a space where she could continue her intellectual pursuits.

What was the significance of Sor Juana's poem 'Foolish Men'?

Sor Juana's poem 'Foolish Men' was provocative and criticized sexist double standards, highlighting the hypocrisy of men who corrupt women and then blame them for immorality. It sparked controversy but also admiration.

How did Sor Juana's intellectual pursuits within the Church affect her status?

Initially, Sor Juana was considered a prized treasure of the Church for her contributions to literature, philosophy, and mathematics. However, her outspokenness and critique of a respected sermon eventually led to conflict with the Church authorities.

What was the consequence of Sor Juana's conflict with the Church authorities?

As a result of her conflict, Sor Juana was stripped of her prestige, forced to sell her books, and give up writing. She was admonished to devote herself to prayer rather than intellectual debate.

How did Sor Juana respond to the censorship imposed on her by the Church?

Sor Juana responded with defiance, renewing her vows in the Church but signing them with the phrase 'I, the worst of all,' in her own blood, symbolizing her protest against the censorship.

What was Sor Juana's final act before her death?

Before her death, Sor Juana threw herself into charity work, nursing her sisters during an illness outbreak. She contracted the illness herself and died in 1695.

How is Sor Juana remembered and celebrated today?

Today, Sor Juana is recognized for her contributions to literature and as a pioneer of feminism in the Americas. She is the subject of numerous documentaries, novels, operas, and appears on Mexico's 200-peso banknote.

What did Nobel laureate Octavio Paz say about the relationship between Sor Juana and history?

Octavio Paz stated that it is not enough to view Sor Juana's work as a product of history; history itself is also a product of her work, acknowledging her significant impact on the cultural and intellectual landscape.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Prodigy and Pioneer: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

The script introduces Juana Ramírez de Asbaje, a 17th-century intellectual prodigy who astounded a panel of scholars with her knowledge. Born out of wedlock in a stratified society, Juana's maternal lineage provided her with a privileged status. Despite societal norms, she pursued education and knowledge, eventually gaining recognition at the royal court. Her life took a turn when she entered the Church, adopting the name Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, where she flourished as a writer and intellectual, advocating for women's intellect and independence.

Keywords

💡Juana Ramírez de Asbaje

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje, also known as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, is the central figure of the video. She was a 17th-century Mexican nun, writer, and polymath who became renowned for her intellect and contributions to literature and intellectual debates. Her life and works challenge the societal norms and gender roles of her time, embodying the theme of female empowerment and intellectual pursuit against societal constraints.

💡Prestigious theologians, jurists, and mathematicians

This term refers to the panel of highly respected individuals from various intellectual fields who were invited to test Juana's knowledge. It illustrates the high level of intellectual challenge she faced and overcame, showcasing her extraordinary abilities and the theme of intellectual prowess in the face of traditional authority.

💡Viceroy of New Spain

The Viceroy of New Spain represents the highest authority in the Spanish colonial administration in Mexico. His role in inviting scholars to test Juana highlights the recognition of her intellect by the highest echelons of society, despite the era's gender biases, and underscores the video's theme of challenging and transcending societal expectations.

💡Class system

The class system in colonial Mexico is a key concept that influenced Juana's social standing and opportunities. It was a hierarchical structure that determined one's social status and opportunities, with her maternal grandparents' Spanish birth placing them in a higher class. This context is essential for understanding the obstacles Juana faced and overcame in her quest for knowledge and recognition.

💡Out of wedlock

Being born 'out of wedlock' refers to Juana's birth outside of a legally recognized marriage, which carried significant social stigma in the 17th century. This term is crucial for understanding the additional challenges Juana faced due to her illegitimate birth and how it contrasted with her later achievements, reinforcing the video's theme of overcoming personal adversity.

💡Doña Isabel

Doña Isabel was Juana's mother, who played a significant role in her upbringing and education. Despite being illiterate and facing societal misogyny, she managed her father's estate and set an example of resilience and independence for her daughters. This keyword is important for understanding the influence of strong female role models in Juana's life and her development of confidence and determination.

💡Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is the name Juana took when she entered the Hieronymite Convent of Santa Paula. This name change symbolizes her transition from a secular to a religious life, where she continued to pursue knowledge and express herself intellectually. It is a key term that reflects the video's theme of navigating societal constraints to maintain intellectual independence.

💡Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition was a historical institution responsible for religious orthodoxy and the persecution of heretics. Its mention in the script highlights the oppressive religious and intellectual climate of the time, against which Sor Juana had to assert her independence and intellectual freedom, central to the video's theme of resistance and perseverance.

💡Feminist

The term 'feminist' is used to describe Sor Juana as the first feminist in the Americas, recognizing her as a pioneer in advocating for women's rights and intellectual equality. This keyword is essential for understanding her legacy and the video's theme of challenging and redefining gender roles and expectations.

💡Censorship

Censorship refers to the suppression of Sor Juana's writings and intellectual expression by the Church authorities, which is a pivotal moment in the video. It illustrates the conflict between her pursuit of intellectual freedom and the conservative forces of her time, emphasizing the video's theme of the struggle for self-expression and intellectual autonomy.

💡Octavio Paz

Octavio Paz, a Nobel laureate, is quoted in the script to highlight the impact of Sor Juana's work on history and culture. His words underscore the video's theme of the enduring influence of Sor Juana's life and works, suggesting that her contributions have shaped the historical narrative and continue to inspire.

Highlights

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje, a brilliant woman in the 17th century, successfully answered complex questions posed by a panel of theologians, jurists, and mathematicians.

Despite being born out of wedlock, Juana's maternal grandparents' Spanish origin placed her in Mexico's esteemed class.

Juana's mother, Doña Isabel, was illiterate but successfully managed an estate, setting a strong example for her daughters.

Juana secretly followed her sister to school at age three and later sought education in disguise, showcasing her thirst for knowledge.

Denied formal education, Juana found solace in her grandfather's library and mastered philosophical debate, Latin, and Nahuatl by adolescence.

Juana's intellect attracted attention from the royal court, leading to her becoming a lady-in-waiting at age sixteen.

Her provocative poem 'Foolish Men' criticized sexist double standards and gained both admiration and controversy.

Juana prioritized knowledge over marriage and sought intellectual independence within the Church, taking the name Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

Sor Juana was a prized treasure of the church, writing on various subjects including philosophy, mathematics, and religious music.

She accumulated a massive library and interacted with many prominent scholars, showcasing her intellectual influence.

Serving as treasurer and archivist, Sor Juana also protected her family from exploitation by men, demonstrating her resilience.

A bishop's publication of Sor Juana's private critique led to her admonishment to focus on prayer over intellectual pursuits.

The conservative Archbishop of Mexico took notice, leading to Sor Juana's loss of prestige and forced renunciation of her intellectual work.

In defiance, Sor Juana signed her vows with the phrase 'I, the worst of all,' in her own blood.

Deprived of scholarship, Sor Juana dedicated herself to charity work until her death from an illness contracted while nursing others.

Sor Juana is recognized today as the first feminist in the Americas, with a lasting impact on culture and history.

Nobel laureate Octavio Paz acknowledged that history is also a product of Sor Juana's work, highlighting her enduring legacy.

Transcripts

Juana Ramírez de Asbaje sat before a panel of prestigious theologians,

jurists, and mathematicians.

The viceroy of New Spain had invited them to test the young woman’s knowledge

by posing the most difficult questions they could muster.

But Juana successfully answered every challenge,

from complicated equations to philosophical queries.

Observers would later liken the scene

to “a royal galleon fending off a few canoes.”

The woman who faced this interrogation was born in the mid-17th century.

At that time, Mexico had been a Spanish colony for over a century,

leading to a complex and stratified class system.

Juana’s maternal grandparents were born in Spain,

making them members of Mexico’s most esteemed class.

But Juana was born out of wedlock, and her father – a Spanish military captain –

left her mother, Doña Isabel, to raise Juana and her sisters alone.

Fortunately, her grandfather’s moderate means

ensured the family a comfortable existence.

And Doña Isabel set a strong example for her daughters,

successfully managing one of her father’s two estates,

despite her illiteracy and the misogyny of the time.

It was perhaps this precedent that inspired Juana’s lifelong confidence.

At age three, she secretly followed her older sister to school.

When she later learned that higher education was open only to men,

she begged her mother to let her attend in disguise.

Her request denied, Juana found solace in her grandfather’s private library.

By early adolescence, she’d mastered philosophical debate, Latin,

and the Aztec language Nahuatl.

Juana’s precocious intellect attracted attention

from the royal court in Mexico City,

and when she was sixteen,

the viceroy and his wife took her in as their lady-in-waiting.

Here, her plays and poems alternately dazzled and outraged the court.

Her provocative poem Foolish Men

infamously criticized sexist double standards,

decrying how men corrupt women while blaming them for immorality.

Despite its controversy, her work still inspired adoration,

and numerous proposals.

But Juana was more interested in knowledge than marriage.

And in the patriarchal society of the time,

there was only one place she could find it.

The Church, while still under the zealous influence of the Spanish Inquisition,

would allow Juana to retain her independence and respectability

while remaining unmarried.

At age 20, she entered the Hieronymite Convent of Santa Paula

and took on her new name: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

For years, Sor Juana was considered a prized treasure of the church.

She wrote dramas, comedies, and treatises on philosophy and mathematics,

in addition to religious music and poetry.

She accrued a massive library,

and was visited by many prominent scholars.

While serving as the convent’s treasurer and archivist,

she also protected the livelihoods of her niece and sisters

from men who tried to exploit them.

But her outspokenness ultimately brought her into conflict with her benefactors.

In 1690, a bishop published Sor Juana’s private critique of a respected sermon.

In the publication,

he admonished Sor Juana to devote herself to prayer rather than debate.

She replied that God would not have given women intellect

if he did not want them to use it.

The exchange caught the attention of the conservative Archbishop of Mexico.

Slowly, Sor Juana was stripped of her prestige,

forced to sell her books and give up writing.

Furious at this censorship, but unwilling to leave the church,

she bitterly renewed her vows.

In her last act of defiance, she signed them

“I, the worst of all,” in her own blood.

Deprived of scholarship, Sor Juana threw herself into charity work,

and in 1695, she died of an illness she contracted while nursing her sisters.

Today, Sor Juana has been recognized as the first feminist in the Americas.

She’s the subject of countless documentaries, novels, and operas,

and appears on Mexico’s 200-peso banknote.

In the words of Nobel laureate Octavio Paz:

“It is not enough to say that Sor Juana’s work is a product of history;

we must add that history is also a product of her work.”