Born: 10 December 1783, United States (Puerto Rico)
Died: 18 April 1873
Country most active: United States (Puerto Rico)
Also known as: María Bibiana Benítez Batista
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Maria was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, December 2, 1783. Maria Bibiana Benitez, first of the distinguished group of women who have contributed notably to Puerto Rican literature, was also the island’s first native-born dramatist. Her themes were almost invariably patriotic, and mirror the unrest of her epoch. She was born in Aguadilla, on December 2, 1783, not far from the spot where Columbus landed. At that period, there was small opportunity for formal education given Puerto Rican women. Bibiana Benitez formed her own mind by such reading as she could get, deriving her inspiration chiefly from the great dramas of Calderon.
Best known of the works is La Cruz del Morro — “The Cross on El Morro” — based on an episode occurring during the attack against Puerto Rico by the Dutch in 1625. One of the incidental songs is instinct with patriotic fervor:
“In bitter loneliness
Stricken with grief are we.
Our city overcome.
Prisoners most we be —
‘With no hope to cheer,
Our tears flow continually,
What help will any give
To such prisoners as we?
“Defender of El Morro,
Come, set our country free.
And strike away the chains
From such prisoners as we!”
Bibiana Benitez died, full of years and honor, in “The name of Benitez flames highest and brightest in the roll of Puerto Rican bards,” comment Richard and Elizabeth Van Deusen in their Porto Rico: A Caribbean Isle. “Dona Bibiana Benitez was great-aunt and foster-mother of Dona Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier, herself a lyricist of distinction, who in turn was the mother of the cherished and renowned poet, Jose Gautier Benitez.”