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
Her work will only be a beneficial source for social history if you consider her biases and opinions that could affect her writing. The moving around probably made her later travelling life much easier to become accustomed to. She never really had to deal with any of the problems she observed in life. This is imperative in determining the merits of her work as a source for social history. It is important to understand how her writings have been affected and bias. She never really settled anyplace for an extended period of time. Her family went bankrupt, they were forced to move, soon after her father passed away. She was able to observe what such adversity can and does do to families, and could sympathize somewhat with others. She was able to understand better and sympathize with the people she would come in contact with. She was able, for the most part, to see and observe the trials and tribulations, good times and bad, almost firsthand. The school was temporarily successful and then closed due to a mishap. However, because of the time period she some times couldn't write exactly what she wanted to, especially when it came to certain government issues. It is my opinion that although she had seen and faced some adversity in life, Fanny basically led a sheltered life. This adversity and experiences help to shape her social identity, and her as a person. She was able to make observations of what she saw as they traveled from place to place.
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