Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648-1695), full name Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana, was a prolific poet, nun, scholar and philosopher. She was a truly revolutionary poet, being at the forefront of the movement to expand women’s rights. She was one of if not the most influential poets stemming from New Spain (Now Mexico). She was heavily dedicated to her work. Some of the major themes in her works included early feminism, women’s intellectual freedom, reason vs. emotion, and love. She mastered the dichotomy of secular and theological thinking, forming a thought identity that affected the literary works that preceded her. Her impact is apparent; she has changed the literary scope for not only women, but all writers and poets.