Food in Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate

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Laura Esquivel’s novel Like Water For Chocolate is set in a ranch in Mexico and tells the story of Tita, a young Mexican girl who, forced to obey her family tradition, is not allowed to marry the man she loves. As one of the cooks, her whole life revolves around the kitchen, so much so that the food she prepares becomes infused with her emotions. Although Esquivel uses the literary device of magic realism in her novel to highlight the importance of food, food generally plays a significant role in any culture. The harvesting of food, the preparation and the act making food in both family homes and in festivals are traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. In Mexico specifically, food is a social custom that builds relationships in families and communities, and is also symbolic (festivals and celebrations). For Tita, “the joy of living was wrapped up in the delights of food” and the kitchen is where is she feels safe; she was born in the kitchen, and was basically raised by the cook, Nacha, who teaches her to cook and also provides her with the emotional support and love that Mama Elena never did. The novel is broken up into monthly installments so as to re-create the feel of a magazine or the church guide that was given to women, to promote staying at home, and looking after the family. Each chapter is prefaced with a recipe, with which the reader uses as a guide through the story of Tita and Pedro. Both Mama Elena and Tita are good cooks, but Tita cooks with love and passion whilst Mama Elena was a practical and efficient cook. In chapter 5 it is said that “unquestionably when it came to dividing, dismantling, dismembering, desolating, detaching, dispossessing, destroying or dominating Mama Elena was a pro” which becomes a metaphor for Mama Elena’s treatment of Tita. For Mama Elena, cooking is the measuring stick by which she judges

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