Radical Feminism in Like Water for Chocolate Essay

In recent years, new wave feminism has reached millions of women around the world and spread its ideas to those who need it - but it is equally as important to have inclusive feminist pieces of literature that give women an idea of what everyday feminism looks like. Like Water for Chocolate by Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel, published in 1989, is a feminist novel set during the Mexican revolution about the protagonist, a young girl named Tita De la Garza, navigating herself through the misogynistic culture of Mexico. Like Water for Chocolate is typical of a feminist novel as it displays the protagonist empowering herself to overcome misogynistic societal constructs and her mentorship of other female characters experiencing similar oppression. Moreover, the novel celebrates female characters overcoming gender roles.

Esperanza, the main character is a good example of gender roles over the course of the book. “She was a horse woman too, born like me in the Chinese year of the horse-which is supposed to be bad luck if you’re born female-but I think this is a Chinese lie because,the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their women strong.” (Cisneros 10) This is an example from the text showing how women are viewed by men in Mexican culture, they don’t like their women strong. Furthermore proving how women are viewd differently than men. Women are supposed to be the smaller, more fragile sex, compared to men who should be big, macho, and masculine. Another example from the text is “..and then as if he ust heard the news himself, crumples like a coat and cries, my brave Papa cries. I have never seen my Papa cry and don’t know what to do...I hold my Papa in my arms.” (Cisneros 56-57) This shows gender roles because Esperanza has never seen her father cry, showing that men in Mexican culture are supposed to be strong, and emointionless, unlike their female counterparts who are seen as weaker and more emotional.

Feminism, according to Merriam-Webster (2016) is defined as "the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men." Though this is the definition of the term,

There are multiple interpretations of the term, feminism. Some regard feminism as the idea of women gaining equal treatment of that men deserve such as opportunities, rights, and power. Whereas, others consider feminism as the idea of women being superior and holding more power than men. In the novel, Like Water for Chocolate, written by Laura Esquivel, there are many implications that define the true meaning of feminism and provides a descriptive, detailed character development which indicates whether the novel supports feminism or not. I am with the majority, who believes that Like Water For Chocolate is feminist novel, due to the fact that characters such as Gertrudis and Mama Elena show independence, courage, and persistence, which indicates

Female characters in feminist literature are constantly highlighted as the protagonist who does not agree to the stereotypic treatment of women in society and refused to be treated the same instead they are prepared to make their own choices, to express their own decisions as well as dealing with the outcomes of their actions. Although every woman is a daughter, a mother, a sister or a wife, any work of feminist literature first deals with her as a woman. The identity of these female characters is not determined by these relationships, roles, or stereotypes. Rather, it is their choices and beliefs that define their identity and they are then associated with these roles. Firstly, there is a big difference between the main female characters; Ofelia, Carmen, and Mercedes. There is an inner conflict towards pregnancy itself where the infant is also the cause of the mother 's worries and sick wellbeing, which is symbolized in Ofelia 's land of magic by

In the Novel, she is neither portrayed as flawless heroine nor as a fallen woman. Her rebellious nature seemed to have been a byproduct of her self-centred nature which manifests in the actualization of her whims and fancies (Kelly, 2001).

Recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses is part of the ongoing process of bettering ourselves. In the novel, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, she explains the strengths and weaknesses over the character named Tita De la Garza. Within the context, Laura Esquivel develops Tita’s emotions through feminity. Tita is the novel’s protagonist, struggles her needs for belonging and security. As well as her desires for adventure, sex, and liberation. In Like Water for Chocolate, it simply explains that there is no such thing as a good or bad woman. Every woman in different in their own unique way. Laura Esquivel explains that women are capable of a variety of complex and often contrary emotions and

For the record, feminism by definition is: ‘the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.’ It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. (Watson 1)

We see elsewhere in the novel the strength in Gertrudis, Tita’s sister. Gertrudis escapes the ranch after reacting mysteriously to one of Tita's recipes. She runs away with a rebel soldier, works in a brothel at the Mexico-Texas border, and eventually returns to the ranch as a general in the revolutionary army. Here we witness the creation of a second strong female character. When we first see Gertrudis we see just another female character. But after her return we find that she has become a leader of in the revolution. Again Esquivel takes a potion that is typically male associated and fills that role with and equally respectable female character.

The main female character is Molly, an ex-military member, probably Special Forces, who aids the main character through out the story. She is portrayed as a woman who is not to be messed with. " Because you try and fuck around with me, you'll be taking on of the stupidest chances of your whole life."(25) This attitude serves her well through out the novel because she is the one who must infiltrate both the Sense/Net and Tessier-Ashpool. Molly is the only woman on the "good" guys side who is physically injured. Even when she is injured, she continues the mission. Molly is able to do things that the men in the story cannot because she is "souped up, jazzed by the neurosurgeons for combat." (214) Her eyes are video cameras and she has a clock mounted inside her head. Four-millimeter razor claws are concealed beneath each fingernail and she has the ability to extend and retract them at will. Her military training has provided her with the ability to fight and execute order with swiftness and precision. From a feminist approach, she is a positive character. She is a strong character in a male dominated society. But she is not the only female character in the novel.

Feminist literature has been around for a long time. Feminist literature can be defined as a piece of literature that supports equal civil, political, economic, and social rights for women. Since the 15th century, many books have incorporated many feminist ideas and themes which considered them to be feminist literature. But should Like Water for Chocolate be considered a feminist novel? I believe Like Water for Chocolate is a feminist novel because of Gertrudis and Mama Elena both challenging feminine stereotypes and promoting feminist ideas.

Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.

There are many different forms of feminism that range from radical to more classic liberal feminism. Such a large range makes it easy to identify as a feminist. In the simplest of terms, feminism is equality between all genders. The action of creating gender equality is not something I question. Moreover, gender equality in all aspects of life should be as easily excepted as humans requiring oxygen to breath.

The textbook definition of feminism is “a doctrine that advocates equal rights for women” (WordNet, 2010). While this is correct, there is much more to it than that.

Feminism is the belief that women should have economic political and social equality with men. This term also refers to a political movement that works to gain equality within a male and female relationship. In a male and female relationship both the roles of the male and female should be equal. Equal in many ways ten one: they should trust each other, share responsibilities, listen to one another, respect each other, and of course love one another equally.