The Injuries of the Light: An anti-mystical Reading of Primero Sueño.

Abstract

The mystical interpretations of the poetry of Sor Juana have been a common occurrence among catholic critics. Allegedly, Sor Juana’s entire life would have been marked by mystical impulses, from her entrance into the nunnery to the end of her days. In addition, Primero Sueño would be a spiritual tale, in which she expressed the mystical turn of her life. This paper aims to defend a contrary interpretation. The poetry of Sor Juana it’s not only not mystical poetry, but her most personal poem, namely Primero Sueño, arises from an anti-mystical impulse, which, in addition, was widespread in the philosophical and religious landscape of the seventeenth century.