Catalina De Erauso Summary

Lastly, the memoir of Catalina de Erauso titled Lieutenant Nun: Transvestite in the New World brings to light the concept of subjective identity in regards to gender. The book also largely focuses on a colonialist narrative due to Catalina’s travels from Spain to Latin America. Catalina played with different gender roles through the gendered performance of masculinity and honor, along with what is deemed as cross-dressing. However, one can learn a lot from Catalina’s life in regards to their travels to the ‘New World’ as a conquistador. In addition, throughout the memoir, it also gives insight to how important to symbol of honor was for Catalina and the concept of masculinity. In the introduction, author Michele Stepto writes; “Catalina’s victories- her sense of self and valor- are culled from the land at the expense of the indigenous people of the Indies, and often at the expense of the women, Spanish-born or indigenous, whom she chances upon during her travels.” Catalina performed masculinity through a performance of violence, and this is exhibited …show more content…
The most notable example of this colonialist and racist, narrative is in Catalina’s description of a ‘half-breed’ they had met along their travels. The passage goes on to describe the woman as “a girl as black and ugly as the devil himself.” This observation made by Catalina demonstrates their privilege as a Basque and how their gender and colonialism mixed to create a prevalent view of Latin America and its people. In addition, it reveals how the symbol of the devil used to justify the pervasive, racist normative claims surrounding Latin people by the colonists. Through Catalina’s subjective identity and fluidity during their life, it is revealed how Spanish people operated during the age of colonialism, and its implications in the study of colonialism and