Analysis Of ' Like Water For Chocolate ' By Laura Esquivel

Abraham Maslow was an American philosopher who was born in the early 1990 's in Brooklyn, New York. He was one of the leading theorists that promoted humanistic psychology during his era. Maslow sought to understand what motivates and inspires individuals. He theorized that individuals possess and hold a group of motivation and incentive systems not related to plunder or insensible desires. Maslow declared that people are motivated and provoked to attain certain needs. When one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfill the next one, and so on. The earliest version of Maslow 's hierarchy of needs includes five motivational needs, often viewed as hierarchical levels inside a pyramid. The five stage representation can be separated into basic needs and growth needs. The deficiency or basic needs are said to motivate and stimulate individuals when they are unmet and not fully attained. Also, the desire to fulfill and accomplish such wants and needs will become stronger the longer the duration they are denied. Once these needs have been relatively satisfied, an individual may be capable of reaching the highest level of the pyramid called self-actualization. Maslow though that self actualization is a state that exists when an individual is acting in harmony with his or her full capabilities. In Cormac McCarthy 's novel, The Road, we will examine the character 's physical journey towards self-actualization on Maslow

Abraham Maslow’s meaning of self actualization is one to reach his full potential or of one’s true self. From a humanistic standpoint, Claire’s

Humanistic conceptions of personality focus on our own natural progression towards achieving one’s full potential, having a holistic approach. Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) believes that growth and behaviour is motivated by a number of needs ranging from basic to psychological needs. He uses a hierarchy, commonly depicted as a five-tier pyramid in which the bottom 4 levels represent our deficit needs, shown in figure 1 below. Once the individual’s physiological needs are met, they may move to the next and so on. After all deficit needs have been met, an individual is capable of achieving self-actualisation. According to Maslow, fulfilling this need means reaching one’s highest potential and truly understanding one’s self.

Like Water for Chocolate is Laura Esquivel’s original romantic love story and is often dubs as the Mexican Romeo and Juliet. In just 246 pages, Esquivel creates a breathtaking work of art, strategically incorporating love, desire, nurture, and feminism. This novel is famously known for its magical realism, a device Esquivel uses in order to justify the perception of the novel and to make extraordinary concepts seem normal. In other words, it is the glue that holds the book together. The novel’s magical realism, helps define lust by incorporating the element of fire. By adding magical elements into the day-to-day life, readers can critically analyze the characters and thus understand their thoughts and actions.

In Laura Esquivel’s novel “Like Water for Chocolate”, she skillfully illustrates that love is a powerful that can either make or break us. The author portrays this conflict through The use of descriptive metaphors and indirect symbolism.

A self-actualized individual has met all the lower level needs in the hierarchy—physiological needs, safety, belongingness and love, and self-esteem—and feels they are realizing their potential and fulfilling their purpose (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2013). These needs are met in order, and according to Maslow, one cannot skip ahead to a higher-level need if they have not fulfilled a basic need (Hagerty, 1999). Indeed Ed has physiological and safety needs met, as his pension and Laura’s retirement fund provide the means for food and housing in a safe neighborhood where he is not in any immediate danger. Ed has a strong social network of his wife, children, and friends from his various organizations and clubs. He displays a sense of respect for himself and people in his neighborhood, and can identify achievements he made in life, particularly graduating high school, getting promoted young in the Navy, and getting high-level promotions in the fire

If one were to reach the self-actualization level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it would mean they are fulfilling their full creative potential and achieving the desire for knowledge. Maslow himself states that, “Acquiring knowledge and systematizing the universe have been considered as, in part, techniques for the achievement of basic safety in the world, or, for the intelligent man, expressions of self-actualization”(Maslow 385). In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, denizens of a dystopia are unknowingly manipulated by their totalitarian government where the creative potential and desire are suppressed. The country they reside in is known as Oceania and the government is often referred to as “The Party” by the protagonist.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel is a powerful novel that serves as a great introductory guide to the Latin-American culture. The novel consists of primarily female characters, the De La Garza family, where each one portrays a female stereotype, or perhaps their role in the society. The setting of the story takes place during arise of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, which helps to further distinguish the roles of the women and how they go about living their everyday life. Like Water for Chocolate can be looked at as a story about two women, a daughter and a mother, Tita and Elena De La Garza. Tita, our protagonist, struggles against her mothers’ tradition, to “serve” her until the day she dies, without having a life of her own.

1. According to Maslow, what are the characteristics of self-actualizing people? Why are these characteristics important?

The phrase “mother knows best” refers to maternal instinct and wisdom. It is often used to describe how mothers are the most knowledgeable when it comes to their children’s needs. This cliche is frequently used by mothers who try to guide their children on the path towards success, especially when the child protests. Tita’s mother, Mama Elena, embraces this expression fully, and always pushes Tita towards what she believes is the road to achievement. Mama Elena is perhaps one of the best portrayals of “tough love” in a character in literature. Like Water for Chocolate’s author, Esquivel, depicts Mama Elena as a strong, independent woman who does not bother with things she deems insignificant. This translates to the reader through the decisions and actions Mama Elena makes throughout the book. Her disregard for emotions is often the reason why her actions are misunderstood by readers who claim that she is a cruel, unrelenting mother who is apathetic to her daughter’s suffering. However, this is not the case, as Mama Elena never acts without reason and only goes out of her way to discipline Tita when she believes that Tita is in the wrong. The readers see her go to great lengths to protect Tita numerous times, although these instances are often hidden behind her less than pleasant words, such as when she tries to shield Tita and Nacha from the rebels who were known to frequently terrorize families and rape women. Despite being a strict and unforgiving mother, Mama Elena’s

Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate The novel “Like Water for Chocolate” written by Laura Esquivel is a historical piece of South-American literature which is parallel to the Mexican Revolution which took place at the start of the twentieth century. The De La Garza family in the novel emphasizes certain similarities with the things going on during the Mexican Revolution, especially with the people in the lower rank. One important structural device used in the novel is the use of recipes which is found in each chapter and sets the overall mood and atmosphere for that particular chapter, the mood or feelings of Tita.

Abraham Harold Maslow was a psychologist, best known for developing a theory called self-actualization. His theory supports satisfying human needs and he identified self-actualization as the highest human need. Maslow believed that self-actualization could not be achieved until the other basic needs where satisfied. I hated high school, and I couldn’t figure out why, or at least make logical sense out of it. After taking a glance at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it all made sense! A simple chart explained why I did not excel. If I would of known this ten years ago my life might be totally different., but we live and we learn. I’ve learned from my mistakes, and with this theory I’m able to help others from making the same mistakes. Hopefully, it can help you too!

In conclusion, a person must go through a series of step/stages to reach “self-actualization.” They must achieve his/his “safety” and “physiological” needs “(basic needs).” “Esteem” and “belongingness and love” needs “(psychological needs)” to reach the stage of “self-actualization.” Psychological theories helps us better understand why a character does what he/she did. Using the psychological theory can help people reach the stage of self-actualization. Although, some may not reach this stage due to natural or un-natural

Human beings have a need for self-actualization that involves growing towards courage, kindness, knowledge, love, honesty, and unselfishness. When we fulfill this need, we feel serene, joyful, filled with zest, sometimes euphoric, and generally happy. When we act contrary to our need for self-actualization, we experience anxiety, despair, boredom, shame, emptiness and are generally unable to enjoy ourselves. (Singer 327-328).

Rita Doves poem "Chocolate" has many different kind of literary elements in it. It is an