Sor+Juana+Inés+de+la+Cruz

=Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-1695)=

Famous woman in Mexican literature, theatre, and women's rights.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was born illegitimate near Mexico City in 1651. When she was sixteen, she became a nun so that she could devote herself to studying, and later moved to a convent in Mexico City, where she remained cloistered for the remainder of her life.

She was an extremely prolific writer who was known for her skill and wit in a variety of styles. Her works were both secular and religious, which was extremely rare for a nun at the time. Many of her works feature brave and clever women.

In 1690, she was criticized by a bishop for writing and studying too secularly, which she responded to by defending not only herself, but the right for all women to pursue knowledge. She is credited with being the first published feminist in the New World.

She wrote many plays, including both religious works and gripping "cloak and dagger" plays, and taught music and drama to girls at her convent's school. She was patronized by the viceroy and vicerene of New Spain.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz's legacy is well-known throughout Mexico, and she is featured on their currency. Her impact on the theatre of Mexico continues to today.

Sources: [|Biography.com] [|Encyclopedia Brittanica]