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Nacimiento de lo Subterraneo
(2013) Hernández, Vanessa; Kim, Hee Sook
The myth of the island Patmos of Greece (originally “Letois”, after Artemis, the daughter of Leto) is used as a metaphor in Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s Primero Sueño. According to the myth, Selene (the moon goddess), in one of Artemis’s visits, shone moonlight upon the island, found at the bottom of the sea. Through the aid of Apollo, Artemis was able to convince Zeus to shine the light of the sun upon the island and bring Patmos to the surface. The myth puts forth an image that meshes nicely with the theme of Sor Juana’s poem: the process of the awakening of the spirit, in this case through the attainment of knowledge. That idea led to what was to become the plot of the story: Nova, an arboresque female born from the roots of a tree, rises from the ground after moonlight casts upon her place of origin and she embarks on a journey of mental, emotional, and spiritual awakening, only to feel fully alive at sunrise. Let yourself be immersed in my world of trees, underworld creatures, and brief and sweet encounters.