Like water for chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Essay by Anonymous UserHigh School, 12th grade March 1997

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Like Water for Chocolate is a fictional novel that takes place in Mexico at the turn of the century, during the Mexican Revolution. The novel covers a time span of around thirty five years and is organized in monthly instalments with each month introduced by a traditional Spanish recipe. Most of the novel takes place on a Mexican ranch and is about a family with a very traditional mother. Within this novel, food and love intertwine to form a tale of forbidden romance.

Like Water for Chocolate is a romantic love story about the frustration, heartache and joys of a true love that could be passionate, but is forbidden and destroyed by a mother with traditional values. Pedro confessed his love for Tita and promised to be true to her, from then on they were bound together by love at first sight. One thing held the two from pursuing their love- a family tradition.

This tradition states that the youngest daughter born to Mama Elena must take care of her until she dies, meaning Tita could not be married but must devote all her time to her mother. Pedro ends up marrying one of Tita's sisters, Rosaura, in order to be close to Tita. Tita was practically raised in the kitchen and she communicates her love for Pedro through the dishes she prepares, and he in turn shows his affectionate gratitude. Tita's quest to be with Pedro is shared only with Nacha, the main cook and helper in the ranch. Nacha understands Tita's pain and consoles with her. Nacha dies from sorrow of loss of her love and throughout the story appears as a kindly ghost. Pedro and Rosaura move away from the ranch leaving Tita alone. She then discovers her love for a local doctor, John Brown, who cares...