Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz : religion, art, and feminism

190 Pages·1999·28.354 MB·English

by  Pamela Kirk

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz

Sor Ju an a Ines
de la Cruz
Religion, A rt, and Feminism
c
Pamela Kirk
C • N Y
o n t in u u m ew ork
1998
The Continuum Publishing Company
370 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Copyright © 1998 by Pamela Kirk
All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the written permission of
The Condnuum Publishing Company.
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cat a logi ng-in-Publication Data
Kirk, Pamela.
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz : religion, art, and feminism /Pamela
Kirk.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8264-1043-X (hardback : alk. paper)
1. Juana Ines de la Cruz, Sister, 1651-1695—Criticism and interpre­
tation. 2. Christianity in literature. 3. Women and literature—
Mexico—History—17th century. 4. Feminism in literature. 5. Theology,
Doctrinal—Mexico—History—17th century. 6. Catholic Church—
Doctrines—History—17th century. I. Title
PQ7296.J6Z692 1998
861—DC21 97-17272
CIP
r97
°9 e °
To my parents
M ary S. and Robert J. Kirk
in love and admiration

Contents
Acknowledgments
. . . 8
Introduction . .. 9
1: Points of Departure
. . . 15
2: Qod among the Nations . . . 27
3: Comedies to the Honor and Qlory of Bread
. . . 37
4: Mary as Divine (M )other. ..
53
5: Bold Adventuress: Mary as a Model for Women
. . . 66
6: On the Benefits of Christ's Love:
Athenagoric Letter. ..
81
7: The Nun and the Bishop: Drama of Power . . . 95
8: Following Jesus: Confessio, Apologia, Imitatio
. . . 116
9: Of Countless Numbers:
The Tradition of Learned Women . . .
130
10: Fame and Fate . . .
143
Notes
...1 5 9
Index . . .
177