Programs

La Carta Atenagórica de Sor Juana: Textos inéditos de una polémica

This program delves into the historical and literary context of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz's "Carta Atenagórica." Originally published in 1690, this work was Sor Juana's critique of a sermon by the Portuguese Jesuit Antonio de Vieira. The "Carta Atenagórica" sparked a significant intellectual controversy in Mexico City at the time, primarily because it challenged a renowned preacher. Until recently, understanding of this controversy was limited to Sor Juana's own "Respuesta a Sor Filotea de la Cruz" and scattered contemporary allusions. This program, however, sheds new light on the debate with the discovery and analysis of previously unknown documents. It focuses on the "Defensa del Sermón del Mandato" by Pedro Muñoz de Castro and the "Discurso apologético en respuesta a la Fe de erratas..." by an anonymous author, both found in a manuscript in the National Library of Peru. Through an introductory study, the program examines these newly discovered texts, discussing their authorship, their interpretation of the "Carta Atenagórica," and the broader implications for understanding Sor Juana's work and her intellectual relationships within the viceregal period. It also explores the potential reasons for the manuscript's presence in Lima, offering new critical and documentary foundations for studying this crucial period in Sor Juana's literary output.