Like Water for Chocolate

Throughout the entire novel, the protagonist, Tita, was always experiencing some sort of heartbreak or anguish towards the situation she would be experiencing at the moment. One of her biggest concerns was being forbidden to marry the man she loved, simply because of a tradition that was passed on for many years in her family. By the mother of the household, Mama Elena, the tradition of the youngest daughter to care for her mother until the day she dies, was taken very seriously. She enforced this rule strictly when she realized that Pedro wanted to ask Tita for her hand in marriage. Laura Esquivel, through the magical realism of Like Water For Chocolate, teaches the reader about her understanding of the social culture, when it comes to keeping important traditions while breaking non-equitable ones. The reader see’s this happening very often when it concerns Titas passion towards her family traditions and Pedro, and of course the gender roles in the book.

The main issue, which the reader is exposed to very early on in the book, is the tradition that has been passed down for many years, which entitles the youngest daughter of the family to care for the mother until the mother dies. Today, one would not usually hear of such a tradition, as women have much more freedom now. Nonetheless, this was a tradition that was taken very seriously in the household, especially by Mama Elena. Tita was expected to do whatever her mother wished for, and that’s exactly how it was. She stood by it for a very long time, until Titas rage and anger for her mother exploded and she finally told her how she felt about her. “I know who I am! A person who has a perfect right to live her life as she pleases. Once and for all, leave me alone; I won’t put up with you! I hate you, I’ve always hate you!” (Like Water For Chocolate, pg. 199) Here, she finally banished Mama Elena’s ghost forever. The magical realism in this part used so significantly, as it symbolized Tita finally breaking away...