De pecados carnales a almas salvadas: cuatro testamentos de mujeres en Cuenca (Ecuador), siglo XVII

Abstract

Estaments are sources of undisputable worth when reconstructing a culture’s material or immaterial value. A series of beliefs, practices, conceptions/attitudes about life and death of those who make a testament are registered, as well as their social and economic context. Additionally, in the act of making a testament, so close to death, the life of the people who ‘confess’ before the notary becomes evident. Hence, these legal subjects, given the circumstances, and with the ideal of accomplishing a good death, in the beginning are concerned more with the salvation of their souls in detriment to their body, for which it is necessary to ask: how does female sexuality and corporality in the XVII century is constructed in the making of a testament? To answer this question, four testaments of mestizo women at the XVII century are considered, from the historical method from the perspective of history of everyday life, who make use of a legal document to manifest their last will.