Seeking Wisdom Through A Liberal Arts Education

     Spanish writer, philosopher, and Hieronymite nun during the Baroque period in the seventeenth century, Sor Juana De La Cruz, once proclaimed, “For one subject illuminates and opens a path in another by means of variations and hidden connections-placed in this universal chain by the wisdom of its Author-so that it seems they correspond and are joined with admirable unity and harmony” (Cruz 169). This eloquent statement highlights one of the main promises and rewards that a liberal arts education offers to students who hope to know more than facts, dates, definitions, and the mastery of memorization. Sor Juana’s words illuminate how when one is trained in a plethora of topics, perspectives, disciplines, and ways of thinking, they can then learn to make deep relationships between each topic, like constellations of stars illuminating the night sky that you never knew were even there. Due to the outpouring of inspiration and influence that the merits of this form of education has injected into my own soul, I felt enlivened to create a piece of art that would reflect deeply on the courageous Sor Juana De La Cruz’s words in her letter, “The Response.” Sor Juana’s text resembles the celebration of the yearning and struggle to obtain intellectual freedom and wisdom, and highlights the importance of the liberal arts and the beauty that it can produce in one’s mind.

     One of the prevalent themes that is woven throughout her letter in “The Response” is her internal and external battle for the freedom to be educated. Many of us today might often take this opportunity for granted, but this woman realized the value of intellectual learning despite being persecuted and victimized for it. This right to an education has been a long lasting struggle for countless women throughout history whose strong will and perseverance have aided this fight. In her letter, she passionately describes how she has been her own teacher throughout her life, since she wasn’t able to receive the education that many men were able to obtain. Additionally, Sor Juana viewed herself as an outcast, in the sense that few women were courageous enough to advocate for what they deserved. Or, they were ignorant to how knowledge could change their perspective of the world and the possibilities in life for all people, regardless of gender, race, or backround. In her pursuit of a higher education, Sor Juana became a Catholic nun and to some it might seem as though she was closing herself off from the world. She states, “I continued my studious effort (which for me was repose whenever I had time away from my obligations) to read and read some more, to study and study some more, with no teacher other than the books themselves. I learned how difficult it is to study those soulless characters without the living voice and explanations of a teacher; yet I gladly endured all this work for the sake of my love of letters” (Cruz 164). She studied logic, rhetoric, physics, geometry, astronomy, music, art, architecture, history, law, and scholarly reading, all with the intention of not only understanding the complexities of theology but of the bounty of truth at the ready for intellectuals hungry to discover the beauty of the world. Ultimately, she believed that God had given her the nudge and encouragement to not surrender to those telling her that she is not worthy of studying secular topics beyond the realm of religion. This relates to the concept in the history of the war on women when there was the concept of “separate spheres” for women, whose duties and abilities didn’t stray from the home and raising their children. Although her writings got published without her consent by a local Bishop, and a letter was written that condemned her intellectual pursuits, she doesn’t let this discrimination obstruct her vision for herself, as well as for all women. This is not to say that the criticism didn’t cause her psychological warfare self-doubt. She was often torn between her duties as a Sister and servant of Christ, as well as her desires to seek out knowledge. She was faithful in every aspect of her life; she didn’t always agree with the church’s sexist views on women, but she remained dedicated to God. Others opposed her yearnings to employ her God-given gifts, but she stood firm with trust and wisdom, which allowed her to not succumb to the resistance.

     In my reading and reflection of Sor Juana’s “The Response,” her powerful words inspired me to see a connection between her love of learning and in my own experience with the liberal arts, both as a child and throughout my college career thus far. As a girl that was homeschooled up until college, I was involved in a co-op that was heavily project and activity based, what could be called progressive education today. It was child-centered, and reading and writing were largely prioritized. During this time, I developed a fervent fondness for books and expressing myself on paper, but looking back I realize that the building blocks to being truly educated were largely missing: a content-based curriculum that strives to envelop knowledge into its students mind, heart, and spirit. As fun as “experience” and project based learning is, it needs to be balanced with the basic consumption of knowledge. Adding to a student's dictionary of knowledge shouldn’t be boring, however. A teacher has the rewarding opportunity to transport the contents of a plethora of subjects to her students in a way that invokes in them a love of learning and a curiosity to know more. Hence, a liberal arts education is led by knowledge, but it doesn’t stop there. It encourages students to take that learned information and run with it, through practiced critical thinking, analysis, deep understanding, and memorization. The latter strategy is often criticized, but ultimately, it gives young minds a bank of knowledge that they can use to connect topics and more fully appreciate the concept. This form of education gives you a place to go with your knowledge, and the curiosity that is produced from learning a plethora of subjects can lead you to seek out more wisdom and beauty in the world’s vessel of wonder.

     When one thinks of being liberally educated, they might say that it means undergoing a general, broad-based curriculum of knowledge. I want to highlight one reward that I have experienced firsthand in my intellectual journey at a liberal arts college taking a plethora of courses that pertain to different subjects. Sor Juana wisely says, “For me, not the knowing (for I still know nothing) but only the desire to know has been so great…I confess I find myself very far from the boundaries of wisdom and have wanted to follow it…” (Cruz 171, 182). During this past year, I have seen and felt the power of how ignorance led by curiosity can take you to amazing places in one’s intellectual journey. After reading “Curious” by Ian Leslie in my sophomore seminar course this past semester, he noted how studying the liberal arts allows students to discover the often unnoticed beauties of connection and appreciate life more fully. For example, it feels empowering to be able to incorporate aspects of what I’ve learned about the liberal arts and apply it to figures and themes in world literature. Who knew that Don Quixote's gullible nature and willingness to trust everyone’s character could be connected to how the information spewed at us from AI is often untrustworthy? Who knew that the concepts of social stratification could be applied to the themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”? Who knew that the learning of historical movements and periods could enhance my understanding of complex literature and famous works of art? Who knew that by allowing your mind to critically think and ask questions, it leads you to be curious about the unknowns. How during one moment I was researching the psychology of curiosity and the next I found myself linking this discussion to the debate regarding the effects of the grading system in the United States on one’s motivations for learning. The moral of the story is that by filling my intellect with a range of knowledge that isn’t tied to a specific topic, I’m able to more clearly make connections between different aspects of the world. Additionally, when I’ve allowed myself to be curious, I begin to realize how vast my basin of ignorance truly is, and like Sor Juana, it inspires me to never stop pursuing the good, the true, and the beautiful that this world offers.

     In one of my classes this past semester, I was deeply moved by writer and historian William Cronon and his essay “Only Connect…The Goals of a Liberal Education.” In it, he states that the modern liberal arts education “includes a greater range of talents and a much more inclusive number of human beings, holding out at least the dream that everyone might someday be liberated by an education that stands in the service of human freedom” (Cronon 2). This reflects Sor Juana’s belief that women shouldn’t be excluded from the rewards of education, whose purpose seeks to gain not simply facts but wisdom, which I believe incorporates knowledge, personal experience, critical thinking, and deep reflection of oneself and of one’s surroundings. Sor Juana’s love for learning invoked in her the desire to explore the crevices of ignorance in her mind through an intellectual education. She found that characters in literature are valuable teachers, that in order to understand the Scriptures one needs to understand the historical context of the time. She found that without knowledge of music theory, she wouldn’t be able to appreciate its presence in the world, such as in scripture’s metaphors. In his essay, Cronon also discusses the human values that often exude from people who’ve undergone a liberal arts education. Together, they illustrate individuals who have been trained in their minds to receive the merits of intellectual freedom and wisdom. One of the qualities that Cronon lists that I deeply connect to is what he describes as people who “read and they understand” (Cronon 3). He isn’t referring to the simple task of simply reading words on a page and moving on. Instead, one who is trained to critically think and analyze texts is more keen to dissect the layers of a text, including its themes, symbols, messages, literary theories, etc. This deep fleshing out of a text brings it to life in a new, meaningful light. Cronon states that “Skilled readers know how to read far more than just words. They are moved by what they see in a great art museum and what they hear in a concert hall. They recognize extraordinary athletic achievements;they are engaged by classic and contemporary works of theater and cinema; they find in television a valuable window into pop culture” (Cronon 3). In a much less eloquent manner than Cronon, knowledge enables us to make connections between unlike things, which in my opinion, makes life so much more fulfilling than understanding everything at surface level. When I went to see Les Miserables for the first time a few months ago, I left with the knowledge of how little I knew, and this in and of itself inspired me to shrink this interminable train of truth. I realize now that to fully understand and appreciate such a complex musical, it is valuable to grasp the foundational knowledge of the French Revolution, the social hierarchy of society during this time period, and philosophical concepts and themes of morality between the characters. Without a concrete knowledge base on the time period that this musical is set in, I was left confused and aware of the gaps that existed while watching it.

     Sor Juana adds to Cronon’s idea by showcasing how the fruits of knowledge can bring out the beauty in even the details of ordinary life. She says, “I saw nothing without reflecting on it, heard nothing without considering it, even the smallest material things, for there is no creature, no matter how low, in which one does not recognize me fecit Deus, none that does not astonish the understanding, if one considers it as one should” (Juana 182). Sor Juana views everything as an image of God, thus feeling a call to become thoroughly acquainted with all aspects of life, from wild creatures to the hidden meanings in literature. Moreover, a liberal arts education is a passageway to wisdom, as it allows you to explore the reasoning and deeper realities of knowledge. Additionally, this process teaches you more about yourself and the passions that you might have never discovered if not for the ignition of curiosity and knowledge. Circling back to the qualities that arise from a liberal arts education, Cronon states that the most valuable is connection. He asserts, “an educated person means being able to see connections that allow one to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways… getting the power and the wisdom, the generosity and the freedom to connect” (Cronon 5). A meaningful education should motivate us to use our talents and hard-earned knowledge to serve the greater good in some way, just as Sor Juana advocated for. From teaching herself to read and write to standing up for her own critics, she is a prime example of someone trying to live out God’s plan for her life, while acknowledging that there doesn’t have to be an end to one’s education, for there is enough truth and beauty in this world to fill a lifetime of learning. The question that both Cronon and Sor Juana ask is this: how can we use our intellect that we’ve gained to ignite our passions for knowledge on others.

     For my creative project I decided to create a collage that takes William Cronon’s encouragement to “connect,” and I blend different elements from both my interpretation of Sor Juana’s story as well as to her powerful relationship to the liberal arts. When choosing the materials that I was going to use in my collage, I wanted to make sure each style choice had a meaning and purpose behind it. In all of the work that I do, I always want to be intentional, creative, and imaginative, and I hope the final product of my piece reflects this desire. First, I selected transparent newspaper sheets that I used to shape into Sor Juana’s veil and head shape. The words on this material symbolize her connection and closeness to written texts and also of her strong-willed dedication throughout her life. Specifically, I was inspired by her commitment as a child to pursue her education despite practically doing it alone. For Sor Juana, though, she felt embraced by the figures in her books that pushed her through the opposition that she faced. I also gave her a rosary, made with delicate beads and a bright gold, paper cross at the bottom. This reflects her resolute faith in God and her belief in the talents and purpose that He’s given her. Surrounding her on either side include a mix of construction paper and shiny, reflective paper that’s designed to resemble the stained glass in a church. A second layer that spreads out from the sides of her vail takes the shape of tree branches, and Sor Juana in the middle is like the trunk, or the foundation. I used bits and pieces of magazines to create the tree branches, and transparent paper with specific designs for the leaves that hang from the trees that represent the humanities and liberal arts curriculum. Some leaves are lined with cursive to echo rhetoric, logic, and the law. Others resemble graphs that reflect arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. Others have music notes, and some leaves are shaped to be flowers, which represent the beauty of art.

     Together, I have produced the image of a tree to illustrate the intellectual fruit that it can produce. Once the leaves, or the knowledge “falls” to the ground or develops in an individual, it can become a source of understanding and freedom in their life. The backdrop of stained glass reflects her inner struggle between her yearning for a life-long pursuit of knowledge, her commitment to God and her time as a nun, and the pushback that she received after following what she believed to be a just aspiration. The wide array of shapes that can be seen in the “stained glass” are purposeful, as they symbolize her conflicted mind, self-doubt, and difficulty in living a life that she could be content in. In the face of Sor Juana I decided not to include facial features such as eyes, a nose, or mouth for a particular reason. This choice reflects how in “The Response” her words often depict how women’s intellectual abilities are often undervalued and frankly, unrecognized. This was the case for Sor Juana, as many discouraged her from even writing about anything outside of the theology spectrum. Ultimately, her “blank” face highlights the attempts made by society and then the church to silence the God-given gifts that she simply wanted to use to understand His creations. Additionally, I felt connected to Sor Juana in my own way through his artistic decision because in trying to reflect and pray over the weight of future career choices and the dreams I have, I’ve often felt conflicted. I often feel compelled to choose one pathway because perhaps people would respect and like me more versus the career choice that is what I truly love. Ultimately Sor Juana’s blank face for me represents my own battle of people-pleasing that I’m working through, while trying to teach myself to be courageous like she was.

     I did, however, write out Sor Juana’s quote that I noted in the opening sentence of this project rationale inside her face, and I feel that it encapsulates the importance and rewards of a liberal arts education that Cronon so powerfully illustrated in his essay. By speaking of how one subject or object in this world always beautifully connects to another in some form of unison and harmony because everything stems back from its author and creator. We are given the opportunity to find our own connections through the form of education that forces us to not view knowledge as a drive-by journey where we collect facts and useless information. Instead, education should be a curious adventure where we ask not just what but why and how. Questions that I like to ask myself when learning about anything are the following: how can I apply this concept to my reality and that of today’s world? What lessons or morals emerge from this piece of literature? In what ways does this historical time period reflect practices in the modern world? What can this character teach me? How can I use science to persuade others about my convictions? Such questions enable us to find meaning in seemingly ordinary concepts; to find wonder in the ordinary facets of life. We are then well-equipped with understanding and wisdom, which can be used to inspire others to seek out their own connected constellations and use their light to spread the beauty of the world with others.

Works Cited

Cronon, William. “‘Only Connect...’The Goals of a Liberal Education.” American Scholar, vol.

               67, no. 4, 1998, pp. 1–6.

Juana Inés de la Cruz, et al. Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz: Selected Works: A New Translation, Contexts,                

           Critical Traditions. W.W. Norton S Company, 2016.