Mother of the nation, she is the voice of the voiceless. Chilean poet, Gabriela Mistral, was the first ever Latin American Nobel Laureate for literature, having won the prize in 1945 (Williamson 531). She wrote for those who could not speak up for themselves, as well as for her own self. Her poetry essentially focused on Christian faith, love, and sorrow. Throughout her life, she had to witness several of her loved ones pass away, and her early years were appalling. Sadly, she herself also passed away at the age of 67, due to horrible disease (Biography). Gabriela Mistral’s poetry was several influenced by her past experiences. This will be revealed through the analysis of her poetry and significant life events. The poet’s given name was Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga,
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While she was still in school, Mistral found her appreciation for poetry, and started writing her own poems. Because her mother was dealing with declining health issues, Mistral decided she would have to start working early. She worked as a teacher’s assistant at the age of 16, then quickly moved on to become a schoolteacher herself, with the encouragement of her older sister who worked as a schoolteacher as well (Bois). At 17, the writer met and fell in love with Romeo Ureta, who wistfully commit suicide 3 years later. This left her with a permanent scar, and the wound was reopened later on when a nephew of hers also ended up taking his life. She was also a very religion based person, who had strong faith and belief in the afterlife (Biography). These were all things she talked about in her poetry. Sonnetos de la Muerte (Sonnets of Death) was a small compilation of love poems, written in grief of the dead. This was the compilation that made her known all throughout Latin America, in 1914, though her first book was not published until 1922, titled Desolacion (Desolation). Ternura (Tenderness) focuses on the theme of childhood, and
While she was still in school, Mistral found her appreciation for poetry, and started writing her own poems. Because her mother was dealing with declining health issues, Mistral decided she would have to start working early. She worked as a teacher’s assistant at the age of 16, then quickly moved on to become a schoolteacher herself, with the encouragement of her older sister who worked as a schoolteacher as well (Bois). At 17, the writer met and fell in love with Romeo Ureta, who wistfully commit suicide 3 years later. This left her with a permanent scar, and the wound was reopened later on when a nephew of hers also ended up taking his life. She was also a very religion based person, who had strong faith and belief in the afterlife (Biography). These were all things she talked about in her poetry. Sonnetos de la Muerte (Sonnets of Death) was a small compilation of love poems, written in grief of the dead. This was the compilation that made her known all throughout Latin America, in 1914, though her first book was not published until 1922, titled Desolacion (Desolation). Ternura (Tenderness) focuses on the theme of childhood, and