Feminsim in Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel Essay

Cruelty and violence have been often a solid influence with Mama Elena towards Tita. The psychological damage that Mama Elena cause Tita took effect after, Tita heard news of the death of her nephew Roberto. According to the chapter five (99) in the month of may. Mama Elena took a wooden spoon and smashes Tita across the face. The act of cruelty and the violent behavior of Mama Elena. In addition to Mama Elena attitude toward the death of her grandson being callous and tactless. This causes Tita to hide in the dovecote overnight. Where the psychological damage began to surface. When the Dr. Brown came to retrieve Tita from the dovecote, only to find Tita there naked with a broken nose and holding a dead pigeon. Tita then became suffer in silences for the next coupled of months. Instead of Mama Elena seeking professional help for Tita to get better, Mama Elena suggested that Tita be taken to the asylum.

Later in Esquirel’s novel, Rosalio announces to Mama Elena that a group of soldiers are approaching the ranch. Mama Elena picks up her shotgun and hides it under her petticoat. She meets the revolutionaries, along with two other women, at the entrance of the home. Mama Elena warns the soldiers not to enter the house. The Captain of the bandits sees the grit and determination in Mama Elena’s eyes and agrees not to enter. However, the regiment does manage to round up some feed before leaving. In contrast, the movie at this point agrees with the revolutionaries entering the ranch, but disagrees with the rest of the events, possibly to add some action. First, Mama Elena confronts the bandits but with only one other lady by her side. Secondly, after a verbal confrontation, the rebels proceed to rape the lady friend, beat Mama Elena unconscious, and throw her in the lake, killing her. According to the novel, Mama Elena doesn’t die until later in the book, from a drug overdose. "At first, Tita and John had no explanation for this strange death, since clinically Mama Elena had no other malady than her paralysis. But going through her bureau, they found the bottle of syrup of ipecac and they deduced that Mama Elena must have taken it secretly. John informed Tita that it was a very strong emetic that could cause death" (Esquirel 135). Soon after Mama Elena’s death Gertrudis returns to the ranch. In Esquirel’s tale

A life in the city of Seguin, Texas was not as easy as Cleofilas, the protagonist of the story thought it would be. The author, Cisneros describes the life women went through as a Latino wife through Cleofilas. Luckily, Cisneros is a Mexican-American herself and had provided the opportunity to see what life is like from two window of the different cultures. Also, it allowed her to write the story from a woman’s point of view, painting a vision of the types of problems many women went through as a Latino housewife. This allows readers to analyze the characters and events using a feminist critical view. In the short story “Women Hollering Creek” Sandra Cineros portrays the theme of expectation versus reality not only through cleofilas’s thoughts but also through her marriage and television in order to display how the hardship of women in a patriarchal society can destroy a woman’s life.

In “Lieutenant Nun: Memoir of a Transvestite in the New World” by Catalina de Erauso, a female-born transvestite conquers the Spanish World on her journey to disguise herself as a man and inflicts violence both on and off the battlefield. Catalina discovers her hidden role in society as she compares herself to her brothers advantage in life, as they are granted money and freedom in living their own lives. Erauso decides to take action of this act of inequality by forming a rebellion, as she pledges to threaten the social order.The gender roles allotted to both men and women in the Spanish world represent the significance of societal expectations in order to identify the importance of gender in determining one’s position in the social order in the Spanish World.

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

Write-up: Tita is the main character of the story, also the narrator, who suffers from unjust oppression from Mama Elena, her mother. She is raised to excel in the kitchen and many entertaining arts where she is expected to spend her whole life taking care of her mother. This is following the family tradition that the youngest daughter takes care of the mother until she dies. With her frivolous wants, Mama Elena denies her marriage and happiness to any man especially Pedro. She eventually breaks down and meets John Brown, the family doctor, who recovers her until she finds happiness again after Mama

Following, we learn that Mama Elena has no milk to feed Tita, which makes Nacha, the family cook - her official caretaker as she replaces Mama Elena. This is important to point out because the initial separation of the two main characters is quite evident; there is no mother-daughter bond that should have been established, Mama Elena doesn’t have time to worry about her, “without having to worry about feeding a newborn baby on top of everything else.” (7) We grow to understand why Tita forms other vital bonds with Nacha, and of course the food that surrounds her daily, helping her not only to grow but acts as an outlet for her emotions. “From that day on, Tita’s domain was the kitchen…this explains the sixth sense Tita developed about everything concerning food.” (7) From the beginning, Tita is given barely any freedom, she is given a purpose, she will not marry anyone until Mama Elena is alive, she is to look after her, which becomes a great conflict when the love of her life, Pedro, is to marry her sister, Rosaura, and not her. Mama Elena wants to hear nothing about Tita’s frustration. Mama Elena herself has lost her true love and because of it is insensitive to Tita’s love with Pedro. The reaction of each woman to her predicament helps explain the opposite characters. Mama Elena lets the loss of her young love turn into hatred for anything but tradition, and

The violence that Tita suffers at the hands of her mother is also depictive of male brutality. For example, Mama Elena appears to be made up of characteristics that are normally attributed to men rather than women, while a closer reading of the text shows that all of the female characters are stronger than their male. Tita’s alliterative litany of characteristics describes Mama Elena’s ruthless personality. Tita is familiar with Mama Elena’s strict rule and lack empathy. The same skill Mama Elena uses in precisely cutting a watermelon she also uses in her dealing with humans. Everything is precise, decisive, and oftentimes destructive.

The Mexican Revolution was a pivotal time in the country for government change; however, it was not just a governmental change during this time, but also societal. Women began to change their role in society. The story Like Water for Chocolate focuses on the youngest daughter of the De la Garza family, Tita, who by tradition is bound to take care of her mother till the day she dies, and because of this tradition she cannot marry. At the time this idea of self-sacrifice was the social norm and an obligation for Mexican women. “In the face of tradition, she is expected to sacrifice her own happiness and well-being for others” ("Like Water for Chocolate").

Mama Elena goes on, for better or worse, attempting the best she can to raise a family in the tumultuous time of the Mexican revolution. She struggles against her rebellious daughter in her own attempt to keep her family’s heritage and traditions alive. Not only does she raise a family but she also runs the ranch on which the live and on derive their sustenance. Early on in the novel we see that Esquivel presents a character that deserves the same amount of respect normally giving to a male character in this same role. By placing this normally male role in a woman Esquivel questions the typical role of the woman in a home of just raising children by bestowing additional responsibilities.

When Han, China is invaded by Shan Yu and the Huns, the Chinese emperor calls for the mobilization of soldiers, enlisting the aid of one man from each family. After discovering her elderly father; Fa Zhou, has been drafted into the Chinese army; Fa Mulan, disguises herself as a man in order to take his place. Once her family becomes aware of her departure; Mulan's grandmother prays to their ancestors in an attempt to provide her with

In modern day America, the concept of civil rights is not one that is typically thought about. Little do most people know, civil rights did not officially exist until 1791 nor do they think about the story behind it or what it has to do with the world they find themselves living in. The Bill of Rights is one of the most definitive documents in American history and impacted what is known as basic civil rights due to its influential author, its historical setting, and its ongoing significance with regards to historical and present day events.

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.

The images in the movie relate very closely to the amusing feeling the book gives us, giving us a high angle on the guests and long shots, showing us collectively how everyone was crying. At that night Nacha dies, and shatters Titas world. Later on Pedro gives Tita roses, and she decides to make quail in rose. The passion dripped from her to the dish, and made Gertrudis the older sister think of sinful thoughts. The aroma arousing from her reaches to a soldier Juan, who was Gertrudis dream, the moment is described magically: “A pink clod floated toward him, wrapped itself around him…naked as she was, luminous, glowing with energy… without slowing his gallop, so as not to waste a moment, he leaned over, put his arm around her waist, and lifted her onto the horse in front of him, face to face” (pg 55-56). The movie draws a great parallel here, the picture is blurry a little as if it is a dream, and for the first time in the movie, which is very dimly lit and poorly lighted, the picture is bright, with a flowing movement of the two as they disappear. One of the most significant moments in the book is when Tita delivers Rosauras baby Roberto, the thing she loved the most. In the movie however, the whole phase of taking care of Roberto in the kitchen and feeding him is very brief, which is very confusing for later scenes. As mama Elena senses that Pedro and Tita might have an affair going on, she sends them to one of her relatives in the United States.

Around the world, law enforcement agencies have common goals but each one performs their duties a little bit different from the others. This goes for Chinese and American police as well. Chinese police are comprised of five different departments and responsibilities. The most well-known is the public security police, which is the most common with America and other countries. Judicial police work as people’s procurators and judicial police in the people 's courts. State security police, similar to the FBI in America, and prison police, otherwise known as correctional officers. Judicial, State security and prison police comprise 14 percent of Chinese police, whereas public security police make up the other 86 percent (Li, 1997).