Like Water for Chocolate is a novel by Laura Esquivel. It tells the story of Tita, a young woman who is forbidden to marry the man she loves. She instead channels her passion into cooking, and her food becomes a conduit for love, desire, and magic. Like Water for Chocolate was published in 1989 and became an instant bestseller. It has been translated into over 30 languages and adapted into both a film and a stage play. Today, it is considered a classic of Mexican literature.
Despite the fact that marianismo is a more contentious topic in Latin America, it remains quite encompassing; this concept emphasizes the sanctity of Our Lady of Guadalupe and simultaneously requires all ladies to follow that notion of “true” femininity. Marianism has often been compared to machismo, and both are firmly entrenched in Hispanic culture.
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel is a novel that not only follows the story of a young woman rebelling against her society’s expectations but also challenges the very foundation of Marianismo. The book was published in 1989 and became an international bestseller, selling more than six million copies worldwide. It has been translated into over thirty languages and was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film in 1992.
Esquirel was born in 1950 in Mexico City and grew up during a time of immense change in her country. In Like Water for Chocolate, she tells the story of Tita De La Garza, who is forbidden to marry her true love, Pedro Muñoz, because of a family tradition that dictates that the youngest daughter must care for her mother until she dies. Tita instead enters into a loveless marriage with Pedro’s older brother, Alejandro.
Tita is an incredibly passionate person and she expresses her emotions through cooking. Every dish she prepares is infused with own unique flavor and feeling. When Tita makes quail in rose petal sauce, the guests at her wedding feast become so overcome with passion that they start making love right there in the banquet hall.
Like Water for Chocolate is not only a story about forbidden love and societal expectations; it is also a story about food and its ability to transcend time and space. In the novel, food is used as a way to connect people to their past, present, and future. It is a way to connect people to each other.
One of the most important things to remember about Like Water for Chocolate is that it is a work of fiction. Laura Esquivel did not grow up in a family of ranchers in early twentieth-century Mexico. However, her novel provides an interesting perspective on Marianismo and its impact on women’s lives.
Mama Elena’s considerable function throughout the book as the main source of conflict goes against the societal customs of her gender, despite her status as the matriarch of Laura Esquivel’s text Like Water for Chocolate. In terms of protecting her daughters’ bodies, Mama Elena takes on a role that is strongly aligned with Machismo culture.
In reality, Mama Elena’s overbearing presence stifles Tita and Gertrudis’ individuality, sexuality, and potential for love. By examining Mama Elena’s personality, Esquivel challenges conventional Machismo beliefs by suggesting that they are damaging to both men and women.
Mama Elena’s role as the primary source of conflict in Like Water for Chocolate stems primarily from her efforts to control her daughters’ bodies. From prohibiting Tita from ever getting married to banning any form of physical affection between Pedro and Tita, Mama Elena goes to great lengths to keep her daughters “pure.”
This kind of possessiveness over female bodies is a hallmark of Machismo culture, which typically dictates that women are to be seen as property of their fathers or husbands. Esquivel subverts this norm by having Mama Elena’s efforts to control her daughters’ bodies ultimately backfire, leading to Tita and Gertrudis’ individualism, sexuality, and love.
Mama Elena’s near-universal obedience is another way in which she deviates from traditional gender norms. In a society that dictates that men are the head of the household, Mama Elena’s unquestioning obeisance to her husband only serves to further her isolation from her daughters. This is in contrast to Tita and Gertrudis, who both eventually rebel against their mother’s oppressive rule. By showing Mama Elena’s subservience as ultimately detrimental to her relationship with her daughters, Esquivel again challenges traditional Machismo values.
Lastly, Mama Elena’s emotional unavailability serves as yet another way in which she deviates from traditional gender norms. In a society that dictates that women are the caretakers of the home, Mama Elena’s complete emotional detachment from her family only serves to further alienate her from Tita and Gertrudis.
This is in contrast to Tita and Gertrudis, who both eventually find love and happiness despite their mother’s attempts to control them. By showing Mama Elena’s emotional unavailability as ultimately harmful to her relationship with her daughters, Esquivel once again challenges traditional Machismo values.
Ultimately, Esquivel’s exploration of Mama Elena’s character serves to challenge traditional Machismo values by proposing that they are in fact harmful to both men and women. Through Mama Elena’s overbearing presence, her efforts to control her daughters’ bodies, her near-universal obedience, and her emotional unavailability, Esquivel suggests that traditional Machismo values can ultimately suppress individualism, sexuality, and love.
Her adherence to Machismo makes the male perspective evident in a story that is shaped by the female experience. Mama Elena, much like the author’s bold choice when designing this character, embodies an unreasonable attitude. She is considered an oppressive force that is ever-present, even after her death (her name continues to invoke fear and discipline). It is difficult to understand why Esquivel made such a risky decision when creating Mama Elena.
Perhaps it was to break stereotypes, or because she saw Mama Elena as a victim of her own upbringing and wanted to humanize her. In any case, Mama Elena is one of the most important (and controversial) characters in Like Water for Chocolate.
Mama Elena’s backstory is integral to understanding her character and motivations. She was born into a wealthy family and married at a young age to Pedro Muñoz, a man she did not love. When her husband was killed by bandits, she was left with two young daughters and no income. In order to survive, she had no choice but to take over her late husband’s ranch and become the head of the household. This experience made her tough and unyielding; she had to be in order to survive in a man’s world.
While Mama Elena is often seen as a villain, it is important to remember that she is a product of her environment. She has had to fight for everything she has, and as a result, she is fiercely protective of her daughters. In particular, she does not want them to make the same mistakes she did by marrying for love instead of financial stability.
Mama Elena’s overbearing nature stems from a place of love and fear. She loves her daughters and only wants what is best for them. However, her fear of them making the same mistakes she did leads her to be too controlling. As a result, her relationship with her daughters is fraught with tension.
