Frederick Douglass once said: "Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any class feels that society is an organized society. plot to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe” (Brainy Quotes 1). Many people believe that for society to be safe and homeostatic, the economy and irrational mindsets must change. Before comparing and contrasting Frederick Douglass and Sor Juana de la Cruz, brief summaries of the literary works “Response to Sor Filotea de la Cruz” and Account of the Life of Frederick Douglass will be given. Sor Juana de la Cruz and Frederick Douglass have several notable similarities and differences. The comparisons that will be discussed are based on the following human conditions: fear, identity and time period. Sor Juana de la Cruz was born into a wealthy family in 1648 who lived near Mexico City, Mexico. After serving as a member of the viceregal court and a lady-in-waiting, Cruz began her spiritual journey and joined the convent. Here, Cruz explores both secular and non-secular studies. She is an exceptionally talented writer with a passion for reading, learning, and writing. She is reprimanded for the information she writes and told to focus exclusively on religious dogma. Shortly after the Bishop of Pubela read one of her letters, he published it (unbeknownst to her) and she responded with a respectful but sarcastic letter (Lawall and Chinua 155-156). Cruz's "Reply to Sor Filotea de la Cruz" was written during the period of the Enlightenment in Europe (1660-1770). This era in Europe cast an opaque shadow over women's rights to educate themselves and express themselves. Sor Juana's article, however, is both inspiring and thought-provoking...... middle of paper ......e by Frederick Douglass. Atlanta: Kessinger Publishing, 2008. 8. Print. “Frederick Douglass Quotes.” » ThinkExist. 2012. Internet. April 16, 2012.< http://thinkexist.com/quotes/frederick_douglass/>Fulton, Terry. "The Church in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution". Verbal awareness. March 2012. The web. April 16, 2012. Lawall, Sarah and Chinua Achebe. The Norton Anthology: World Literature. Second, shorter edition. 2. New York: WW Norton & Company Inc., 2009. 157. Print “The Emancipation Proclamation.” The legislative archives center. The United States National Archives and Records Administration. 2012. Internet. April 16 2012. < .