It’s crazy to think that she went through this at all, but even more so in a time filled with so much suspicion and speculation. The similarity this story has to fiction, rather than an autobiography is slightly unfathomable. If not slightly Shakespearean/Disney Princess-y, this brief account of her life shed a different light on the subject of colonial Spain and the “Indian” Conquest in Spanish America. Over 300 years ago, this story was being lived, however it feels as if it’s more of a soon-to-be movie rather than real life. However, her bravery as a person added to her strength and cunning wits as a woman.
It’s actually almost as unbelievable as, what seems to me as what came about as the coining of the term “labels”: The Casta Paintings. The casta paintings, first appearing during the 18th century with the reign of the first Bourbon monarch of Spain, Philip V, are the depiction of different racial mixings of Spaniards with, most commonly, “Indians.” The shock and awe factor of artifacts such as these perpetuate the issues between man-made social differences throughout history. I am constantly astounded by the lack of humanity between Europeans and their beliefs of creole inferiority, however with the awareness of such ungodly artifacts maybe this can lead to change in the future where these social constructs will be completely unheard of and unnecessary.
