Women of Colonial Latin America

In the aftermath of the so-called conquest of Peru, which achieved importance in the Spanish colonial sphere of the New World largely because of its rich precious-mineral deposits, there appears to have been an intent to structure a society that would emulate the society of the Old World, complete with all the divisions of class and privilege, as well as influence of the Roman Catholic Church, that were typical of Spain during the sixteenth century. In significant part, this emulation appears to have been accomplished. That explains Padden's description of the increasingly formal separation of racial and social classes that took place in the Peruvian city of Potosi, site of "one of the largest and perhaps richest silver lodes ever found on earth" (Padden vi), into neighborhoods and suburbs that reflected the superior position of the aristocratic Spanish colonists who supervised and benefite

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lfights, balls, and other entertainments in the city" (Arzans 59). Much in the manner of Shakespearean comic heroines, and confident of their skill with weapons, Dona Eustaquia and Dona Ana disguise and arm themselves as young gentlemen and set about exploring the city on their own, taking a youth as their guide. The precariousness of wealth in untamed Potosi becomes evident when the two "gentlemen" are set upon by bandits; the girls draw their weapons, kill one bandit, and rout the others. They go out prowling at night several more times, each time taking fuller advantage of what is available to men but not women of good family in Potosi's night life and each time winding up in a fight. When their father discovers their subterfuge "he beat[s] them soundly and shut[s] them up in their bedroom, meaning to punish them more severely . . . for Don Antonio was a man of violent temper" (Arzans 67). They escape, making their way to Lima and embarking on a five-year adventure during which they live as men and manage not to be "carried away by the natural appetite of sensuality" (Arzans 68-9). They return to Potosi, as women, after learning of the death of Don Antonio. Dona Eustaquia takes up her inheritance and with Dona Ana sets about f
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Approximate Word count = 2334
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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