Seventeenth-century dialogues

The vast scholarly production of the last thirty years dedicated to early modern religious women has positively influenced the routes taken by scholars working on the life and writings of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. As information accumulates, so too does the need to find innovative methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks that would aid in the study of aspects of the Hieronymite nun’s writings. A transatlantic paradigm offers unique possibilities for the study of Sor Juana’s writings, adding a new dimension to understanding her texts and also providing ways to better appreciate the fluid exchanges that took place in the Iberian Atlantic during the early modern period, particularly in terms of women’s cultural production (Cañizares-Esguerra 215). A transatlantic focus generally seeks decentralized readings of cultural, social, and economic exchanges, rather than privileging nationalistic approaches. In this way, it provides a comprehensive and more accurate picture of how social space was conceived during a given time and area of intense activity. ¹