Critique of Life in Mexico
In her many letters, and through her journals, Fanny Calderon de la Barca has left us a very informative eyewitness account of nineteenth century Mexico. Although these writings can be very useful in studying this period of time, it is important to note some of the factors that may have affected what she wrote. Fanny Calderon de la Barca's own social identity was one of the factors that had the most profound impact on her writings and observations. It is because of this social identity that her writings can be used advantageously as a source for social history...However, it is the same social identity that will help alter and be disadvantageous to using her work as a source for social history. Through examples of her writing this paper will argue these merits and show how this work can and can not be used as a source for social history. It is important to understand Fanny de la Barca's social identity, in order to help clarify the pros and con's of her work. She was the fifth child of ten born. Her father was well to do landowner, as well as a legal writer in Scotland. Her mother was related to the Earl of Buchan, in addition to other noble Scottish families (pg.5). She was very well educated as a child. She did see
It is obvious that losing a loved, especially one as close as a parent will have a profound impact on a person. When debating over the means of travel she illustrates the different methods, mule driven carriages, they are really just boxes with wheels, she has a very "snooty " sounding attitude. After her marriage she continued to lead a good life. This also could have adversely biased her writings. , she and her husband almost always stayed in a nice and comfortable place or house. Her work will only be a beneficial source for social history if you consider her biases and opinions that could affect her writing. Her own childhood experiences may have helped her in using her own insight on certain topics. Her childhood was filled with ups and downs. She never really had to deal with any of the problems she observed in life. She was able, for the most part, to see and observe the trials and tribulations, good times and bad, almost firsthand. This may have been a different time period, but parents usually have a way of trying to shelter their children from certain things when possible. It is important to consider that these are Fanny's observations and opinions, and are affected by her, and the experiences in her life. Due to her husband's respected position in society she was able to meet many important people, generals and leaders. Also a lot of the information she gathered was from generals and governors, people such as Santa Anna. Although she noted some of the negative things that she saw, such as the smoke blackened buildings on the way to Vera Cruz, etc.
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