The Answer, Section 2

In the second part of the letter, I thought Sor Juana raised some very interesting points. One passage I enjoyed was: “For there are many who study only to become ignorant, especially those of arrogant, restless, and prideful spirits, fond of innovations in the Law…” (81). With this, Sor Juana claims that instead of education negatively affecting women, it really did so to men, especially in the Church. Although these men study and should be able to interpret the Bible, their sexist attitudes led them to use passages and Church law against women. Instead of their studies enlightening them about women and their value, they were used to justify unfounded prejudices. A man who has delusions of grandeur before he even begins studying is strongly influenced by his arrogance as he reads and “interprets.” Calling the way men use Church law to oppress women “innovations in the Law” was subtly sarcastic because it implies that these men had to be creative in order to make up discriminatory laws. She also used a sort of antithesis by saying that those who study can become ignorant because most people would think that studying would help them and not make them worse. I think she does this to show how men in the Church embody many contradictions, but aren’t even aware that they do.

Another one I liked was: “And so, good lady, I fear applause more than slander. For slander, with just one simple act of patience, is turned to benefit, whereas praise requires many acts of reflection and humility and self-knowledge if it is not to cause harm” (101). Her entire letter is a response to Sor Filotea’s criticisms and slander against her. She understands that Sor Filotea meant to put her in her place with his letter, but she uses it as a way to refute his weak arguments and lecture him on the important roles women play. In this way, she is mocking him by inviting him to slander her because she can only turn it around on him with her brilliant rhetorical skills. However, it also seems like Sor Juana considers Sor Filotea’s attention as a sort of praise because she feigns humility as if he were complimenting her. Sor Juana seems invincible to Sor Filotea’s insults because she is a superior thinker and writer, which she demonstrates repeatedly.