The Answer III

Throughout history writing poetry has been seen as an acceptable action for women to take part in. Part of the reasoning for this is because poetry doesn’t require as much education as another subject, such as science or math, would. Once a person learns to read and write poetry would come as a natural way to express themselves.

In many of her poems Sor Juana comments on the courting practices that exist between men and women, which reflect the purpose of the stories in The Disenchantments of Love. Much like Christine de Pizan and Maria de Zayas Sor Juana is trying to warn, and in a way prove to, women that men only think of themselves and their wants and needs and that they don’t stop to think about the future consequences of their actions.

In “Philosophical Satires (Poem 92)” she opens with “You foolish and unreasoning men who cast all blame on women, not seeing you yourselves are cause of the same faults you accuse; (165)” The rest of the poem explains how men set women up to fail in their eyes because no matter what women do they will do the wrong thing. (Poem 145) comments on the lack of meaning in portraits when she writes “this is an empty artifice of care (159.)” This speaks volumes about what men want of women when they compare them to paintings of beauty.

In (Poem 174) Sor Juana voices a radical opinion for her time. She wrote, “Your ignorance of your error I accuse, because both Fate and Love, of things like these, have given us not ownership, but use. (163)” In this phrase she is saying that women aren’t property and shouldn’t be treated as such. This idea very much goes against the normal values for the society. After all, no man wants a woman that has her own thoughts, ideas, and needs—it’s a woman’s job to do what her husband tells her without hesitancy or questioning his intentions.

Sor Juana’s poetry also speaks to the differences between men and women, and how men react to them. Men were allowed to have affairs and their wives couldn’t do anything about it, if she knew. At the first thought of infidelity on a wife’s part the men act viciously. “don’t let these tyrant jealousies torment you nor base suspicions shatter your repose with foolish shadows, empty evidence: (161)”  “You combat their firm resistance, and then solemnly pronounce that what you’ve won through diligence is proof of women’s flightiness… Women’s good favor, women’s scorn you hold in equal disregard: complaining, if they treat you badly; mocking if they love you well. (165)” These passages demonstrate that men are never happy with women.