Like Water for Chocolate-Feminsim

English A1 HL

World Literature II

Word Count: 1,187

How does the author of Like Water for Chocolate depict her feminist views and how do they contribute to two different themes of the novel?

In the novel Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel exposes her strong feminist attitude through a controlling first person limited narration and a detailed, descriptive portrayal of the characters. This exploitation of feminist views supports two major themes: change in traditional attitudes towards authority and freedom of expression. In this novel, Laura Esquivel shows how Mexican women can overcome the powerful traditional authority of men and the traditional mindset of women; and how women can overcome society’s suppression and express themselves freely. . These two themes have a direct correlation to women’s breakthroughs all over the world; especially throughout Latin America.

Laura Esquivel uses a first person narrator to tell the story through a flashback in a way where she can manipulate the readers point of view and opinion. The novel is narrated by the daughter of Esperanza, which is Tita’s great niece because Esperanza is the daughter of Rosaura, Tita’s sister. This creates a sense of incredibility throughout all of the novels events and the characters feelings. The narrator wasn’t even alive when the events occurred; they were passed down to her through a “grape vine” of stories that were ultimately influenced by Tita’s cookbook because it was the only thing that was left after the fire burned down the house. This literary genre in which the author creates an

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ambiguous case in respect to the credibility of the events in order to manipulate them so she can emphasize and exaggerate certain points in the story to exploit her theme is called Magical Realism. It is realistic in the sense that the work can criticize society and “magical” in the sense that the narrator does not have to speak the truth. The narrator can manipulate certain vies on certain characters. For example, throughout the novel the reader obtains Tita’s bashful point of view on Rosaura and Mama Elena’s arrogance and ignorance. If the narration would be something like third person omniscient, it would be up to the reader to decide whether or not you think Tita is saying the truth, or if she’s just being a selfish, immature teenager that can handle growing up. Esquivel uses the first person narrator to implore her feminist message and point of vie across to the reader

Change in attitude towards authority and freedom of expression can be seen through the way the narrator creates sympathy for Tita and creates a masculine, authoritative character for Mama Elena. Tita represents the woman who can think as an individual moving on and changing dominant authoritative views on her and that can express herself freely. Mama Elena has the mannish attitude and character because she represents the woman that has already gone through years of suppression and plans to suppress her daughter just like they did to her. Tita being the last child is obliged to take

care of her mother until she passes away, this silly tradition does not let her marry or have a family of her own. Mama Elena also can also represent men, who have suppressed women forever in Mexico; but Laura Esquivel’s main intention is to show woman’s suppression of women. A change in attitude toward authority that shows the authors feminist attitudes can be seen when Tita stands up to Mama Elena’s ghost in Chapter 10

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(October). When Mama Elena’s ghost comes out, Tita is not afraid any more and answers back: “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 hated you!” (Esquivel 199) This is a perfect representation of the authors purpose as far as portraying her feminist views goes. Tita finally releases her lifelong dilemma and the lifelong story of many of the women in Mexico. She doesn’t hold back anything, she expressed herself freely, and that’s what Esquivel wants women in Mexico to do. She wants them to be individuals and to think for themselves and to not be in the constant subjugation by society. After Tita releases her true feelings her body begins to