María Bibiana Benítez Batista (December 10, 1783 – April 18, 1873) was a Puerto Rican writer who was Puerto Rico's first female poet and one of its first playwrights. She was the first of three renowned poets in her family, the others being her niece and adopted daughter Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier, and Alejandrina's son José Gautier Benítez.

Early years

Benítez was born in the town of Aguadilla to José Benítez Bermudez and Juana Constanza Batista Rodriguez. She was the second eldest of six brothers and sisters. Her father was a lieutenant in the Spanish Army who was famous for having successfully defended San Juan against a British invasion. 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 in addition to commanding the military garrison in Ponce, he also served as a sub-delegate to the Royal Intendancy, an important position within the Spanish colonial government, as well as a mayor of the city, meaning that he controlled both the military and civilian powers in one of the island's largest cities. It is considered to be the first poem written by a Puerto Rican woman. It is also the best known of her poems.

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She published the poem "La flor y la mariposa" (The Flower and the Butterfly) in 1841, which denounces inconstant men:

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In 1858, to commemorate the birth of Alfonso, HRH Prince of Asturias, María published Diálogo Alegórico (Allegorical Dialogue), a play in verse, and received honors from the Imprenta Guasp, a San Juan printing press company. Diálogo is a model for palace literature, written to serve celebrations and other official events.

María wrote La Cruz del Morro ("The Cross of El Morro") in 1862, making her the first Puerto Rican to write a dramatic play.

In her seventies, she wrote A La Vejez ("To Old Age") (1861), a meditation on aging. Other works include Memorias (“Memories”) (1833), "Soneto" ("Sonnet") (1839), and Romance Histórico (“Historical Romance”).

Family

Benítez never married, She was buried at Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery.

See also

  • List of Latin American writers
  • List of Puerto Rican writers
  • List of Puerto Ricans
  • Puerto Rican literature
  • Puerto Rican poetry
  • Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States
  • History of women in Puerto Rico

References

Further reading

  • (English translation)