María Bibiana Benítez
Encyclopedia
María Bibiana Benítez was Puerto Rico's first known female poet and one of its first playwright
s.
. Her father Jose Benitez, was a lieutenant in the Spanish Army
who on April 28, 1797 defended "La Puntilla" against an English
invasion. He was married to Juana Bautista Benitez. Her family loved literature
and owned a private library which contained a collection of the best books available at the time. Her father could afford such a luxury since he also held an important position within the Spanish
colonial government. Benítez was able to attend the best private schools where she learned about poetry and composition.
In 1813, she moved to the coastal town of Luquillo
, where she wrote the majority of her poems. In 1820, her brother Pedro Jose Benítez and his wife died and she took it upon herself to raise her orphaned niece Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier
, who would in the future become a renowned poetess herself. Benitez was also the great-aunt of whom is considered to be the greatest Puerto Rican poet, Jose Gautier Benítez
.
woman. She also became the first Puerto Rican woman to write a dramatic play when she wrote La Cruz del Morro
(The Cross of El Morro). The play was based on the attack of the city of San Juan
by the Dutch
with the intention of invading Puerto Rico in 1625 and the heroic defense by the islanders. This was the first dramatic play written in Puerto Rico dealing with a local historical event. Among her better known poems are: "Soneto" (1839), "Diálogo Alegórico" (1858) and "A La Vejez."
.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
s.
Early years
Benitez, (born María Bibiana Benítez Constanza) was born into a middle class family in the town of AguadillaAguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
. Her father Jose Benitez, was a lieutenant in the Spanish Army
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
who on April 28, 1797 defended "La Puntilla" against an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
invasion. He was married to Juana Bautista Benitez. Her family loved literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and owned a private library which contained a collection of the best books available at the time. Her father could afford such a luxury since he also held an important position within the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonial government. Benítez was able to attend the best private schools where she learned about poetry and composition.
In 1813, she moved to the coastal town of Luquillo
Luquillo, Puerto Rico
Luquillo is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 wards and Luquillo Pueblo...
, where she wrote the majority of her poems. In 1820, her brother Pedro Jose Benítez and his wife died and she took it upon herself to raise her orphaned niece Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier
Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier
Alejandrina Benítez de GautierThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name "Benítez" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Gautier". is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest poets.-Early years:Benítez de Gautier, born in Mayagüez,...
, who would in the future become a renowned poetess herself. Benitez was also the great-aunt of whom is considered to be the greatest Puerto Rican poet, Jose Gautier Benítez
José Gautier Benítez
José Gautier Benítez is considered Puerto Rico's best poet of the Romantic Era.-Early years:Gautier Benítez was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico to Rodulfo Gautier and the renowned Puerto Rican poet, Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier. His great-aunt, Maria Bibiana Benitez, was also a renowned Puerto Rican...
.
Literary works
In 1832, Benitez published her first poem, La Ninfa de Puerto Rico, which is considered to be the first poem written by a Puerto RicanPuerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
woman. She also became the first Puerto Rican woman to write a dramatic play when she wrote La Cruz del Morro
El Morro
El Morro is a Spanish term meaning "The Promontory", which in English may be used in reference to the resemblance of various promontories.-Individuals:* El Morro , considered the best chess player in Portugal of his time.-Places:...
(The Cross of El Morro). The play was based on the attack of the city of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
with the intention of invading Puerto Rico in 1625 and the heroic defense by the islanders. This was the first dramatic play written in Puerto Rico dealing with a local historical event. Among her better known poems are: "Soneto" (1839), "Diálogo Alegórico" (1858) and "A La Vejez."
Later years
Benitez moved to the Calle Cristo in city of San Juan. In San Juan she presented her play and she also published the rest of her poems. Among her better known poems are "Soneto" (1839) and "Dialogo Alegorico" (1858). Maria Bibiana Benitez died on April 18, 1873 in San Juan Puerto Rico.Books
There is a book written about her life titled "Los Silencios De Maria Bibiana Benitez" (The Silence of Maria Bibiana Benitez) by Maria ArrillagaMaria Arrillaga
María Arrillaga is a Puerto Rican poet who has been a professor at the University of Puerto Rico. She taught in the Spanish department on the Rio Piedras campus. She is a member of PEN's women's committee and a past secretary. She is the author of several collections of poetry...
.
See also
- List of Latin American writers
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of Famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature
- Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States