Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Blew Everyone Away
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz is one of the most esteemed Baroque writers. In 1651, she was born to unwed and poor parents in the Mexican city, San Miguel Nepantla. She learned to read by age three and began writing poems by age eight. She was unfortunately prevented from higher education due to her gender and her family’s financial situation. When she was 16 she became a lady to the viceroy’s wife. Both the viceroy and his wife were amused by her incredible intellect and hosted a public demonstration where 40 professors quizzed her on their fields of knowledge. She astonished the crowd with her knowledge. Later she became a nun and produced an impressive collection of produce poems, plays, and philosophical writings.
