Like Water for Chocolate

Novel Defense Paper

I. Introduction and Novel Content

Like Water for Chocolate, a novel authored by Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel,
showcases a blend of magical realism, hyperbole, foreshadowing, and symbolism. It
explores the constraints of societal norms and sacred family traditions, and also delves
into the utilization of food and other domestic activities as a creative literary
expression. The novel itself exposes the richness of Mexican cuisine and relates its
recited foods to many of its significant events.

It follows a young woman named Tita De La Garza who is forbidden to marry her true
love, Pedro Musquiz. As the youngest daughter, Tita must follow the duty to take care
of her mother until the end of her life. She faces a number of trials and tribulations as
conflicts between her and her mother intensify, and her and Pedro’s tension heightens.

II. Book Data

Title: Like Water for Chocolate

Original Title: Como Agua Para-Chocolate
Author: Laura Esquivel
Genre: Romance, Magical Realism, Tragedy, Fiction
Origin Country: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Date Published: 1989 (Original version), 1992 (English version)
Publisher: 1989 (Mexico) Doubleday, 1992 Perfection Learning
Number of Chapters: 12
Number of Pages: 256

III. About the Author

Laura Esquivel is a Mexican Novelist, screenwriter, and politician, who is well-known

for her first novel, Like Water for Chocolate, and its success as a bestseller in Mexico
and the United States. The popularity of the book resulted in a Spanish-language
movie adaptation with the same title, which also gained immense popularity. Esquivel
has won several awards as a screenplay writer and as a novelist. She is the first non-
US writer to receive the ABBY Award (American Booksellers Book of the Year).

IV. Characterization of Characters

Tita De La Garza - The novel’s protagonist and youngest daughter of the De La Garza
family. She is forbidden to marry the love of her life, Pedro, because of the family’s
tradition where the youngest daughter must take care of her mother and not entertain
any suitors. She has a deep connection to the kitchen and possesses excellent culinary
skills. Tita is a very emotional, selfless, and nurturing woman, who seems to possess a
magical ability that enables her to infuse her emotions in her dishes. She desires to
break free from the family’s constraining tradition.

Pedro Musquiz – Tita’s lover, Rosaura’s husband, and Roberto and Esperanza’s
father. He was denied to marry Tita and instead, he marries her sister. However, he
continuously proclaims his love for Tita. He is a complex character, who at times acts
with self-restraint and thought, and at other times acts impulsively.

Mama Elena (Elena De La Garza) – Tita, Roasaura, and Gertrudis’s mother and Juan
De La Garza’s widow. She is the Ranch owner and is an incredibly strict, aggressive,
and harsh woman who imposed the family tradition unto Tita.

Rosaura De La Garza – Tita and Gertrudis’s sister. She marries Pedro and is the
mother of Roberto and Esperanza. She is deeply concerned with how society views
her and is as attached to the family traditions as Mama Elena.

Gertrudis De La Garza – The eldest De La Garza sister. Gertrudis is taken away from
the farm after being swept on a horse by Juan Alejandrez. She worked in a brothel, but
later becomes a General in the army.

Dr. John Brown - The De la Garza family’s doctor. Dr. Brown is a widow and Alex’s
father. He proposes to Tita and rescues her from Mama Elena’s confining and abusive
household.

Nacha – The De La Garza family’s chef who is partially deaf. She acts as Tita’s
mother figure and supports Tita during her time of need.

Chencha – The De La Garza family’s maid, who has a habit at overexaggerating while
telling stories. She is married to Jesus.

Esperanza – Rosaura and Pedro’s second child, who shares many similarities to Tita.
She is married to Alex Brown.

Alex Brown – Dr. Brown’s son and Esperanza’s husband.

Morning Light – Dr. Brown’s grandmother. She comes from an indigenous tribe
called the Kikapu.
Juan De La Garza – Mama Elena’s husband and Tita and Rosaura’s father. He died
from a heart attack two days after Tita’s birth.

Juan Alejandrez – Gertrudis’s husband. He is also a captain in the rebel army.

Jose Trevino – Mama Elena’s secret lover and Gertrudis’s true father. He is described
as “mulatto.”

Jesus – Chencha’s husband who accepted her even though she was no longer a virgin.

Sergeant Trevino – One of the soldiers in Gertrudis’s troop. He is loyal to her and
harbors a secret affection for Gertrudis.

Jovita – Tita’s former teacher.

Don Pascual Musquiz - Pedro Muzquiz’s father who questioned his son’s decision to
marry Rosaura.

Roberto – Rosaura and Pedro’s first child who died in infancy.

Aunt Mary – Dr. Brown’s aunt from the United States. She is deaf and reads lips well.

John’s Grandfather – He is a white man who captured Morning Light and took her
home as his wife.

Mary (John’s great-grandmother) - Dr. John Brown’s great-grandmother. She opposed

to her son marrying an indigenous woman

Father Ignacio - The parish priest that informed Mama Elena that Gertrudis is working
in a brothel.

Rosalio and Guadalupe – Farmhands and laborers on the De la Garza ranch.

Nicholas – The manager of the ranch.

Felipe – Nicholas’s son who helps around the ranch.

Paquita Lobos and the Loboses – The De La Garza family’s neighbors.

Narrator (Tita’s grandniece) – Esperanza’s daughter.

Tequila and Pulque – The ranch dogs on the De La Garza ranch.

 V. Theme

The novel exhibits many intriguing themes, such as magical realism, the interpretation
of domestic activities as a literary device, passion and sensuality, forbidden love,
family dynamics and sacred traditions, and lastly, freedom and rebellion.

These themes are beautifully encapsulated with the intricate relationships between the
characters being fully recognized and the connection of food to foreshadow events
being emphasized, serving as pathways that help us understand the main ideas of the
novel better.

VI. Plot

Like Water for Chocolate revolves around Tita De La Garza’s life, the youngest
daughter in the family who lives in a ranch in Mexico during the early 20th Century, at
the time of the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17. Divided into twelve chapters, each
chapter starts with a recipe that ties or relates to the chapter’s events.

Bounded by the family duty and tradition, as the youngest daughter, Tita is forbidden
to marry and must take care of Mama Elena for the rest of her life. This heartbreaking
restriction causes her to experience a chaotic journey marked by longing, defiance,
and eventual self-discovery. The struggles and constraints that she faced fueled her
internal conflict and longing for rebellion and freedom. Pedro Musquiz, her lover,
becomes betrothed to Tita’s sister after being denied by Mama Elena to ask for Tita’s
hand in marriage. Tita is forced to suppress her feelings for Pedro, a circumstance that
she mourns deeply.

With no other way to express her emotions as freely as she wished, due to Mama
Elena’s abusive nature and societal constraints that she imposed, Tita turns to
domestic activities as a way of expression. The dishes that she made and the
embroideries she created all serve as a conduit for her struggles and desires. Her food
especially, reflects her innermost feelings and influences the lives of those who
consume her dishes.

Despite her attempts to hide her feelings for Pedro, Tita's love for him remains
steadfast, resulting in secret meetings and forbidden moments of passion. These events
further intensify the sensual tension in Tita and Pedro’s relationship.
As the plot progresses, Tita's path becomes one of self-discovery and freedom. She
challenges societal norms and asserts her independence. Through her strength and
determination, Tita finds her freedom and embraces her true self.

Overall, the story resonates with readers as a powerful exploration of the human
spirit's capacity for change and growth.

VII. Setting:

The novel’s central setting is at the De La Garza family’s ranch, located at Mexico
near the border of the United States. The story takes place during the Mexican
Revolution and includes scenes set in both rural and urban environments.

The ranch is where many pivotal events take place. It is a place that represents ties
with tradition, family duty, and cultural bonds, but it is also a shelter of constrictions,
conflicts, and struggles for Tita. Once she is sent to leave the ranch and be taken with
Dr. John Brown, we are introduced to Dr. Brown’s home, which is where Tita
eventually takes on her self-discovery journey and gains her confidence to renounce
the iron fist-hold Mama Elena has on her. She finds her independence and swears that
she “would never renounce love,” ever again.

The kitchen is also a very important setting for Tita, as this is the place where her
emotions are expressed and shown through her cooking. Here, the variety of differing
flavors and aromas serve to represent her many struggles and inner desires as the story
continues.

Another setting is the village where Tita’s family and other members of the
community interact and mingle. The battlefield for gruesome fights between the
revolutionaries and federal party is a recognized setting in the story which often
affects the characters’ life and well-being.

VIII. Conflicts:

"Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel contains both internal and external
conflicts that drive the narrative and shape the characters' decisions.

a. Internal Conflicts:

One of the central internal conflicts in the novel is Tita's struggle between conforming
to her family's traditional expectations while also pursuing her own desires, especially
in her relationship with Pedro. Tita deeply yearns and longs to be free and be with
Pedro without being burdened or hindered by her family tradition.
As she grapples with this conflict, her longing, and despondency manifests itself in her
works. For example, the bedspread she embroidered ever since she and Pedro spoke of
marriage symbolizes her continued yearning for a future with Pedro. She still sews this
bedspread as a form of longing and desire.

b. External Conflicts:

Tita faces external conflicts with her family's rigid traditions and expectations,
particularly those enforced by her mother, Mama Elena. The oppressive nature of
these traditions restricts Tita's freedom, leading to conflict and tension within the
family dynamic.

Additionally, the narrative sheds light on societal prejudices toward individuals of

mixed ancestry, commonly referred to as "mulattos," who have heritage from both
Black and White backgrounds.

The Mexican Revolution backdrop also creates more challenges for the characters,
affecting their lives and relationships. The era's political turmoil adds to the obstacles
Tita and her family encounter, shaping their experience.

IX. Style:

Laura Esquivel employs a captivating language and style of writing that consists of
magical realism, imagery, symbolism, and cultural references. Magical realism forms
the foundation of "Like Water for Chocolate" by blending fantastical elements with
everyday life. This unique narrative style adds depth and emotional quality to the
story, making it a fascinating reading experience.

Arranged around monthly installments and intermingled with recipes, the narrative
immerses readers in the richness of Mexican culture while also presenting the story’s
main plot.

The novel is first narrated in first-person frame, but gradually switches to third-person
omniscient narration to better describe the story’s events and depth.

X. Title Implication:

The title “Like Water for Chocolate” originates from the common Spanish idiom
“Como agua para chocolate,” meaning “boiling mad” or having intense emotions that
are about to erupt. The title’s meaning perfectly connects with the book’s emotional
essence, such as when Tita suppresses her intense feelings, may it be longingness,
melancholy, anger, or something else. Much like water, Tita’s emotions flow freely
and cannot be contained. Tita's emotions also vary in intensity, from calming waters to
boiling rage, depending on the circumstances she faces.

The “chocolate” in the title also implies and evokes images of indulgence, sensuality
and pleasure, all are central themes in Tita's relationship with Pedro. The title also
connects the link between Tita's feelings and the act of cooking, which is her primary
form of expression. Overall, the title reflects Tita's emotional journey and the role of
food in conveying her feelings.

XI. Conclusion:

"Like Water for Chocolate" is a captivating novel of love, tradition, and self-discovery
set in revolutionary Mexico. Through the story of Tita and her culinary talents, the
novel explores themes of passion, family, and societal expectations. As Tita confronts
her forbidden love for Pedro and challenges her family's traditions, she discovers her
own strength and voice. With its rich imagery and evoking storytelling, "Like Water
for Chocolate" offers a glimpse into a world where emotions run deep and food
becomes a powerful expression of desire and liberation.