Laura Esquivel’s “like water for chocolate,” presents the story of a Mexican girl and boy who are deeply in love with one another. Through out the story Laura has presented Tita De La Garza, the youngest daughter of De La Garza family, as a character who constantly fight with the society and especially her mother Elena to set her free from the family’s tradition of abandoning the youngest daughter to marry. The story is presented in period of twelve months with some kind of dish prepared each month, probably to site the importance of certain kind of food at certain month. Apart from deeply engaging story, Laura also gives us idea about how food affects different kind of activities we do in our everyday life.
The versatility that the food has on human activity is the power of the story itself. For instance, there is a place in the story where everyone starts acting aphrodisiac after eating “Quail in Rose Petal Sauce.” By that author is trying to give a reader the idea that certain kinds of food, probably because of the flavor, arouse sexual excitements. Also, in the story Tita tries to cook new and delicious food in order to make her and Pedro’s relation better. So, It won’t be wrong to say that food is also presented as a whole new language of communicating human emotions.
The other idea that the story delivers is the different shades of femaleness. There are several women characters in the story each distinctly different from one another. For example, Tita is portrayed to be a loving and caring girl, where as Mama Elena is shown rather strict and merciless women. Gertrudis, one of the sisters, is rebellious, and Rasaoura seems envious of Tita and see her as a competition regarding Pedro.
Therefore, this book seems to be delivering a lot of messages to the readers. It also seems like the story has a feminine flavor to it. Maybe because there are a lot of female characters and kitchen scenes. But whatever message the story might have for its reader, at the end its all about the love story of a girl who fights her way through the unsupportive crowd to lay in the arms of her man.
I really liked how you ended the blog with " at the end its all about the love story of a girl who fights her way through the unsupportive crowd to lay in the arms of her man" for some reason that choice of words created a distinct visual in my mind. I agree with the "femaleness" throughout the novel, all the women in this story are completely opposite from eachother. That scene with the rose pedal sauce dish was pretty intense, Tita was really communicating her lust to Pedro that night! lol
ReplyDeletei agree with claunav on your last sentence, its honest and well its quite clear to whate extremes women go for love.. great entry :]
ReplyDeleteyup!!thanx for the reviews..
ReplyDeleteGood analysis man...Specially because that one dish "the rose pedal sauce" was great. Funny how it had a different reaction on everyone at the table.
ReplyDeleteSubee - Great entry. I love hearing your thoughts. I also love that you have personalized this blog and even linked to some of your musical skills!
ReplyDeleteThe story is definitely all about the women. Mama Elena is this dictatorial figure, and Tita is this young girl who has to submit to her every will, while her two other sisters practically get off scott-free. This story definitely has some Cinderella-like aspects! I mean, it seems that way to me, but in way more graphic detail. I have to agree, the whole chapter in regards to the quail in rose petal sauce really highlights the eroticism in the story, and how different foods bring about the rise to different sexual feelings. I have to admit, I was INCREDIBLY surprised with everything that happened afterwards, considering the first chapter seemed almost conservative in nature.
ReplyDeleteGreat entry! I also agree that this book is about a girl who want to find love but cant because of her unsupportive mother and her traditional ways
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