Like Water For Chocolate Analysis

Melina Sang
Prof. Natarajan Nalini / INGL 3109
Thursday, April 25, 2012
Self-growth Through Defiance of Tradition (Authority) in Like Water for Chocolate
* One of the most recurring themes inLaura Esquivel’s novel is tradition. Many conflicts arise around its despotic authoritativeness and the rigid responsibilities and obedience it constantly demands.
* This including the novel’smain conflict of Tita not being allowed to marry Pedro, the love of her life, because she is doomed to an unreasonable tradition. And that is: for being the youngest of all children— and not only that,but for being the youngest GIRL of all children—, she cannot marry because she has the responsibility of taking care of her mother (Mama Elena) until the day she dies.
* One afternoon, before MamaElena told them they could leave the table, Tita, who was then fifteen, announced in a trembling voice that Pedro Muzquiz would like to come and speak with her. After an endless silence during whichTita's soul shrank, Mama Elena asked: "And why should this gentleman want to come talk to me?" Mama Elena threw her a look that seemed to Tita to contain all the years of repression that had flowedover the family, and said: "If he intends to ask for your hand, tell him not to bother. He'll be wasting his time and mine too. You know perfectly well that being the youngest daughter means you have totake care of me until the day I die." (Chapter 1)
* At first, Tita continues to be obedient towards her mother’s every demand and swallows anything distasteful situation she encounters, like forexample, after she learns that her elder sister, Rosaura, will be marrying Pedro instead. However, she slowly finds ways in which she can rebel. One of those ways is through her cooking, where she canopenly communicate her forbidden love for Pedro with each bite.
* The mark of Tita’s real rebellion starts when she finds out that her beloved nephew, Roberto (Pedro and Rosaura’s son), has died...