It’s shocking to me that I haven’t heard about the Lieutenant Nun before. I feel that this would have been a concept more spoken about considering her actions and what she did was completely against the values specifically towards religion people had during her time. Overall I think what she had done was very brave, from leaving the Church to sailing the seas. In a way she didn’t let herself become the person society expected her to be at the time. Thus, part of her reason to change her appearance and identity to Francisco Loyola. Part of what I am wondering is how difficult at times it must’ve been for her to experience leaving and with that changing in ways where her mother wouldn’t identify who she is or her father’s conversation with the Captain.
She managed to sail through the seas, and fight alongside men something that at the time it wouldn’t be “right” for a woman to do, as well as her actions going against what women should do or not do. She was faced with several moments where she had to defend herself, like with her brother. She wanted to be treated the same like everyone else, in this case in her experience and environment, she wanted people to treat her like men are treated However, though some of her actions do seem to be brave, there is also her actions that diminish the view of her being “heroic” from taking advantage of people to stealing… so overall who is the Lieutenant Nun?
Do you think she ever had a moment of regret in leaving the Church in the first place?
What would have happened if she hadn’t changed her identity?
Ultimately is she the villain or the hero?
Hi Daniela,
I was also surprised to read about Catalina, I had never heard of a transgendered woman who was a conquistador in the 1600’s, it was a very interesting read. I agree with everything you’ve said, I personally feel like Catalina might have missed her life before running away, that can be seen when she goes back to the convent to hear her mother’s mass, and she was also very happy to be reunited with her brother. If she hadn’t left the convent she might’ve been able to keep in contact with her family, maybe saying goodbye to them was her only regret. I find her to be symbolic in the sense that she chose a different path and opened up people’s perspectives but she was also a conquistador and ultimately caused a lot of harm, so I can’t say I view her as heroic. Anyways, thanks for proposing these questions it made me think more in depth in regards to this week’s readings.
I totally agree with you , I never heard about this tale before class, when i was taking courses about history in Mexico i did heard about Columbus but not Liteunant Nun. About your questions i don’t really think that she regretted about leaving the Church because she was always doing bad things like flirting with other girls, killing people, gambling, etc. So, she definitely was not following her path to religion. Ultimately, i also think that she was very significant and useful for the army and because of that she was a hero. I have a question for you, why do you think that this story is not that popular as Columbus story?
After I read the story, I had more of a negative perspective towards Lieutenant Nun, and found it kind of weird how it was suppose to be a “heoric” story. Although I do agree that her acts of leaving the norms and social expectations is quite brave, her actions throughout the story made me feel like it was more hypocritical. As you mentioned, she stole from people and constantly ran away from the law. Eventhough she lelft the convent in the first place, she kept on going back to the church whenever she needs a place of safety or to relieve her guilt of killing. It really made me question about her being “heoric” or not. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I also found it very interesting that this story is not talked about more. While I certainly admire her bravery and resilience in going where quite literally no woman had ever gone before, I also think that she should be judged the same as any other woman, man, or otherwise human being. For example, she was ruthless conquistador who killed people. Also, she made sexual liaisons on people who she should not have because they were either taken, or were too close to her “work” relationships. I would have frowned upon this behavior from a man, so I also frown upon it from the Lieutenant Nun. That being said, she was a remarkable figure and I think her story is very much worth telling.