Like Water For Chocolate Stereotypes

Why do authors write characters that don’t stick to the stereotypes and what is expected of them? Like Water for Chocolate, written by Laura Esquivel, shows Tita, the main character, is in constant conflict throughout the novel, as well as those who love her. The characters often break free of defining stereotypes while also being pressured into what is expected of them.

Tita experiences heavy influence and emotional abuse from her family members. The most common is from Mama Elena who doesn’t want Tita to marry and plans for her to serve the house until her mother’s death, “Tita, who was then fifteen, announced in a trembling voice that Pedro Muzquiz would like to come and speak with her… Mama Elena threw her a look that seemed to Tita to

Tita says herself: “she did a mother’s work without the title” (79), she even took care of her niece as if she were its mother, furthering her responsibilities. Tita recounts how strictly she stuck to the script of working for her mother while she is staying at John’s house, “She had to get up, get dressed, get the fire going in the stove, fix breakfast, feed the animals, wash the dishes, make the beds, fix lunch, wash the dishes, iron the clothes, fix dinner, wash the dishes, day after day, year after year” (109). In this scene of the novel Tita recounts the monotony and repetition of her daily life on the ranch. She was willing to adhere to her gender role and role in the family. She didn’t have to create an identity for herself because Mama Elena did it for her, and as soon as that routine was gone she didn’t know what to do. Although Tita stuck to many gender and family expectations she eventually rebelled against them and was able to make an identity for herself outside of the oppressive and watchful eye of Mama

After John learns of Tita’s infidelity he gives her a mature and heartfelt message, “ ‘Tita, it doesn’t matter to me what you did, there are some things in life that shouldn’t be given so much importance, if they don’t change what is essential. What you’ve told me hasn’t changed the way I think, I’ll say again, I would be delighted to be your companion for the rest of your life--but you must think over very carefully whether I am the man for you or not” (223). Tita cheated on John with Pedro, whom she had loved at first sight, and was surprisingly unfazed by this news. John took a very different approach than what would be expected from someone in this situation. He very calmly accepted what he had been told and gave Tita an option: Marry him or secretly be with Pedro. Although John would prefer to be the one Tita chose, he would be perfectly content with her choosing Pedro instead because it would make her happy. Instead of being commanding and in-charge like most men are portrayed to be, he instead put aside his own desires for those of Tita. In one case in the novel, after Rosaura has recovered from her illness, Pedro found himself in a situation that required him to conceive with Rosaura. He begrudgingly does what is expected of him after much avoiding, “That night, realizing that he wouldn’t be able to ignore his conjugal duty forever, Pedro knelt by the bed, on which the nuptial