Like Water For Chocolate Tradition Essay

There are many laws, rules, and traditions that exist within our country, state, school, and home. They are meant to bring peace, order, and safety, however they can sometimes be unfair and unjust. In the novel Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel, tradition plays a big part in the De la Garza family, particularly Tita, Mama Elena, and Rosaura. The book shows tradition being used to both restrict and to obtain power. Both Mama Elena and Rosaura use the power of tradition to limit Tita’s choices. Mama Elena abuses her power and uses rules and traditions to overpower Tita. Early in the book, Tita wants to marry Pedro, so she tells Mama that Pedro was going to come over and talk about their marriage. Esquivel writes, “‘You know perfectly

You can also infer from when Mama says, “you have to,” that Mama doesn’t intend to change the rules of tradition. She uses her power so that Tita will “take care of me until the day I die.” She also speaks in “a tone of final command” telling the reader that there will be no objections and that her words are absolute. Tita tries to object to Mama’s decision, but she has no power. Esquivel writes, “Tita knew that discussion was not one of the forms of communication permitted by Mama Elena’s

She hates Rosaura, because of how she uses tradition to have power over her. Even after Mama’s death, Tita still struggles with the rules because of Rosaura. Esquivel writes, “‘You had no right to have a boyfriend… According to the tradition which you were breaking... I will keep you from getting anywhere near my daughter, or I will run you out of this house, which Mama left to me.” Esquivel, 213 and 215. Rosaura mentions that Tita had “no right” to be with Pedro, “According to the traditions, which you were breaking.” You can infer from this part of the quote that Rosaura enforces tradition and doesn’t want anyone to break the rules. Rosaura also doesn’t want Esperanza to learn from Tita, so she starts to be independent, feeding her own daughter; She tells Tita that “I will keep you from getting anywhere near my daughter.” Rosaura also says “this house, which Mama left for me.” From this, the reader can infer that Mama trusted Rosaura most. They both share similar thoughts about the family’s rules and tradition. which is why the ranch is in her hands. To Mama, Rosaura was probably best fit to keep the family and its traditions alive. Tita’s reaction to Rosaura forcing the tradition onto Esperanza is shown in this quote. The author writes,“She couldn’t have done anything worse to Tita. She had known how to hurt Tita most deeply. Esperanza was one of the things Tita loved most in the world. The anguish she felt!... she wished with