Sor Juana
I have been gradually updating the “Connect” section of this site with a few new resources. I plan to add three new movies, one of which is “I, The Worst of All” (Yo, la Peor de Todas).
Based on the book “Traps of Faith” by Mexican Nobel prize winner Octavio Paz, this film by Maria Luisa Bemberg tells the story of Mexican poet and writer Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695), a target of the Spanish Inquisition, and her relationship with the viceroy’s wife. The passionate and often erotic poetry this relationship inspires scandalizes her bishop, but the viceroy and his wife protect her.
After they return to Spain Sor Juana faces envy and retribution. A tribunal, her confession as “the worst of all” and the plague end the great poet’s life.
One of the women of CCL researched and wrote a very good article about her for Images. I need to make sure we have it on the site.
“This afternoon, my dear, when I spoke with you,
In your countenance and in your acts I saw
That with words I could not persuade you,
So I desired that you see into my heart;
And Love, which aided my intent,
Overcame that which seemed impossible,
Since amidst the tears that sadness unleashed,
My heart, undone, dropped within me.
Enough, then, of harshness, my dear, enough:
Neither torment yourself more with these tyrannous doubts
Nor let vile distrust oppose your peace of mind
With foolish shadows or vain evidence,
Since already in flowing humor you saw and held
My helpless heart between your hands.”
