Los empeños de una casa (The House of Trials) one of sor Juana Inés de la Cruz's dramatic pieces belonging to her literary production. It was first performed on October 4th, 1683, during the birthday celebrations held for the first-born of the viceroy Count of Paredes; of which coincided with the entry of the new Archibishop of Mexico City, Francisco de Aguiar y Seijas.
The tale centers around two couples who long to be together, but by circumstances out of their control cannot. This comedy of intrigue is one of the most famous works of late-Baroque Spanish-American literature, with a peculiar characeristic of having nun as the leading lady of the story, of whom is strong-willed and determined and openly expresses her frustrated wants and desires. This is archetype falls to Doña Leonor, the protagonist of the story.
This work is considered in many circles to be the pinnacle of Sor Juana's pieces both in verse and throughout all mexican literature. From the way it handles intrigue, to the representation of complicated system of conjugal relationships and the vicissitudes found within urban life, each aspect intertwines to create Los empeños de una casa to be a rare theatric piece of colonial Latin America.
Synopsis edit
Doña Ana de Arellano y su hermano don Pedro residen en Madrid, pero deben trasladarse a Toledo por razones de negocios. En Madrid, Juan de Vargas conoció a doña Ana y la sigue hasta Toledo, donde se desarrolla toda la acción de la comedia. En Toledo, sin embargo, doña Ana cree enamorarse de Carlos de Olmedo, quien no le corresponde pues mantiene un romance con doña Leonor de Castro, a quien don Pedro pretende. Don Rodrigo, padre de Leonor, desaprueba la boda de su hija con Carlos, por lo que este y su amada planean escapar a fin de forzar el enlace.