In the novel, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, Tita, the main character, learns how to cook from her family’s cook, Nacha, who inexplicably dies early on in the book. Tita tends to both serve gender roles and expectations while also subverting them at the same time. As a feminist novel, Tita acts rebellious and refuses to accept her role as a caregiver for her mother, Mama Elena, towards the end of the book after having enough of being a servant to her. The gender roles that are reinforced on Tita are unjust and place responsibility and cause distress on her. Tita’s role as the youngest daughter in her household is to serve and care for Mama Elena until she dies because it is a tradition in the de la Garza family. Following this tradition means Tita won’t ever be able to marry. Tita stands up to her mother’s unfair rules in hopes of living her own life and making her own decisions.
There is a power imbalance between Tita and Mama Elena due to the unfair tradition that Mama Elena
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Tita made Mama Elena ox-tail soup but she spit it out. Tita couldn’t believe her mother’s poor behavior where it says, “Instead of obeying her, Tita turned away, trying not to let her mother see her frustration. She didn’t understand Mama Elenas attitude. She never had understood it. It was beyond her comprehension that one person, whatever her relationship with another, could reject a kind gesture in such a brutal manner, just like that, so high-handedly. She was sure the soup was delicious. She had tasted it herself before bringing it up. It couldn’t help but be good, she’d taken so much care in preparing it,” (page 130-131). Towards the end of Mama Elenas life, Tita finally subverts the expectations that are placed on her. Tita refuses to be disrespected in such a vile way or let her life be controlled where she couldn't be able to live her own