Coming Full Cirlce

As I read Lieutenant Nun I could not believe how many connections I was able to make with the subjects and other readings we have covered in class. I wanted to blogg about a few of the connections. First of all, the prominence of the Catholic church as a institute of salvation directly links to the news pamphlet Cantigas. The message of the Cantigas implied that it did not matter what you do, if you are catholic and pray to mary you will be saved. In the same way Catalina is constantly seeks refuge in different churches after committing crimes such as murder. The promotion of Catholic doctrine stays strong as it not only suggest self redemption, but also acceptance of individuals who may have deviant characteristics (for example Catalina lives as a man, yet is accepted and secured by the church).

I was also able to relate the stereotypes of women's purity in Lietenant Nun to several of the medieval and victorian readings we have had in class that discussed the issues of women's virtue. Near the end of the book Catalina is examined and found out to be a woman with her virginity in tact. From then on she is celebrated and accepted in the community as a hero. This directly contrasts with the similar story of Cespedes who ended up in shame due indirectly to her hermaphroditic qualities. The text suggests that Catalina was finally accepted not for her valor, but for reasons pertaining to her virginity. She has repained a virgin and thus has kept the social code of the time period.

- Mandi Brooksbank