Sor Juana Day Three

In my creative writing class I was told that, historically speaking, the writing of poetry by women was accepted because it didn't require much education. I think this helps Sor Juana because it allows her to be more open. In the prologue poem she basically says, I don't care if you like it nor am I expecting you to, this is my poem, take it or leave it. She also speaks to the relationship and dynamics between men and women. This seems to be a prevalent theme throughout this poetry. She addresses how men aren't good for women. An example is in Poem 165. "Why do you woo me first with flattery only to spurn me next with mockery?" This is similar to the Disenchantments of Love. How many stories did we read where the man flattered the woman constantly until she married him only then to turn cold and abuse her? In class you had asked how could a nun know of romantic love? I think she has taken the images she has read or seen. It is possible to have a sense of romantic love without actually experiencing it yourself. In poem 149 she addresses choosing a life "one must endure until death." (This can be seen as Sor Juana's own struggle with life. She didn't want to get married so she chose to become a nun. This is a lifelong commitment- until death. Was she praising herself for her choice or regretting it? I am not sure of this. What I do think is that she is praising the bravery of women who choose a path like this. She attacks men and accuses them of bringing women down in poem 92, Philosophical Satire. "You foolish and unreasoning men who cast all blame on women, not seeing you yourselves are cause of the same faults you accuse." This can also be related to The Disenchantment of Love. Men were destroying women's honor in most of the stories. Because of their actions these women were "ruined". Common themes in these poems are religion and the arrogance of men.