Mama Elena In Like Water For Chocolate

Woman And Emotion -LWFC

With the 4 years I've been in high school, most if not all the books I have read in classrooms have left me with no further thoughts. Oftentimes I would just read through it to get a grade, then forget about it. Handfuls of essays with words upon words, all mindlessly written by a tired teenager. Now I am about halfway through my senior year, and excluding a pair of exceptions, this is one of the first books that managed to make me think a little more on a character's feelings. The deep and intricate thoughts the author tried to portray had me wondering if my interpretations were implied, or if I strayed off the path. Grief, angst and deep emotions, Like water for chocolate, A book by Laura Esquivel is an intriguing

Mama Elena is the mother of Tita and her two sisters, she is also the head of household at the ranch. Mama Elena has a lot of power, both as a woman and as a mother. Even in death Mama Elena haunts Tita and sways her opinions of herself and others. Mama Elena Was abusive and strict, often making decisions for others and belittling Tita “Mama Elena went to her, picked up a wooden spoon, and smashed her across the face with it”(99). In chapter Seven we get a glimpse into Mama Elena's life before the birth of Tita. After Elena dies, Tita discovers a locked chest full of love letters between Elena and a lover that she was forbidden to marry, also finding out that Gertrudis was from a different father. The author adding this detail about mama Elena's past ropes us back to the idea that mama Elena was more than a two-dimensional archetype. At this point in the book mama Elena has passed away, but we can see why she was such a strict and bitter woman. She was stripped of the source of happiness and the future she wanted. ”Full of morbid curiosity, Tita opened the box. It contained a diary and a packet of letters written to Mama Elena from someone named José Treviño. Tita put them in order by date and learned the true story of her mothers love. José was the love of her life”(137). The author's choice to add this aspect of depth to the story brings in a new perspective

She completely breaks the mold to what a traditional woman was supposed to be, she is sexually liberated and also becomes a powerful woman in a leader position for war.The author took a really interesting step when writing this into Gertrudis’s character. In the early chapters of the book Gertrudis runs away from a shower that was on fire, running off completely naked. She jumps up onto a horse with a man and makes love for the first time while riding the horse. Later the author reveals that She works at a brothel. Shocking to read and a questionable writing choice. I can see why this was incorporated. This addition would really make the reader think deeper about the characters. After years of being missing Gertrudis comes back to the ranch with an army trailing behind her, she was now a general. It's very rare to see women in leadership positions, especially since war involvement is seen as a “manly job”. “When they got close enough, she could see that the person in charge of that troop was none other than her sister Gertrudis. At her side rode the man that carried her off years ago,Juan Alejandrez, now a general” (177). Gertrudis is an interesting contrast to Rosauras sad character and Titas inner complications. Her impulsive decisions and success in breaking away from tradition add in a mix of thought provoking character