Like Water For Chocolate Gender Analysis
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The roles of gender and production in the novel have been shown in the characters through different circumstances. The adoption of new and productive roles seems to have been brought about from circumstantial events that seem to outweigh traditions of the Mexican community. Mama Elena plays a main character throughout the novel until her passing away as a leader (hard and tough), as well as a decision maker in the family. These roles are not typical for the women of her time, but they were because of her husband’s death
Mama Elena takes up the roles of running the household, as well as making decisions, such as adherence to tradition, and the duties in the family (Esquivel 80). The traits of the
character …show more content…
are foreshadowed in the novel such as her inability to breastfeed Tita. The ideals of a family are a bit modern with Mama Elena being allowed to be the patriarch of the family, her husband’s brother or other men in the community might have dethroned her from the role of a family leader.
The era seems to be more receptive of gender roles. For example, when Gertrudis, runs off with a general of the Revolutionary army, but later comes back as the leader of the army, herself. The community seems to be living in a transitional period, where women are allowed some freedom, and yet expected to stick to traditional roles. Tita and Nacha are portrayed as traditional women, taking up the roles of nurturing children and preparing food in the novel
(Esquivel 6). The productivity roles for the two characters lay in nurturing the next generation since they step up to help Mama Elena and Rosaura in breastfeeding the young (Esquivel 49).
Both characters are highly involved in kitchen responsibilities, preparing food for the other members of the family, and in the case of Tita, Nacha was her tutor in cooking. In considering the contributions of food in the plot, it represents a major component towards the growth and development of the community.
There is symbolism in the use of food in the novel, as it forms the foundation of development. Food plays various functions such as interactions in the family, and in social events. The concept of food, made by women, represents the role of women, in a
traditional setting in society. Women are depicted as capable of playing the traditional roles, as well as the roles associated with men, which include administrative, military, and political roles.
The role of women in the society as shown in the novel presents a shift into modernism, where women can do everything that a man can, and still perform the traditional roles. The boundaries of gender roles have been demolished to empower women, with their position justified as being able to practice the traditions of the community. In this novel you can tell the author tries to eliminate the threat of an uncontrolled revolution in society, as well as social principles, patterns and trends of the community. The shift of change in women in society are inevitable, but it does not intimidate the values of the society, and the women are just as capable as men.
The roles of gender and production in the novel have been shown in the characters through different circumstances. The adoption of new and productive roles seems to have been brought about from circumstantial events that seem to outweigh traditions of the Mexican community. Mama Elena plays a main character throughout the novel until her passing away as a leader (hard and tough), as well as a decision maker in the family. These roles are not typical for the women of her time, but they were because of her husband’s death
Mama Elena takes up the roles of running the household, as well as making decisions, such as adherence to tradition, and the duties in the family (Esquivel 80). The traits of the
character …show more content…
are foreshadowed in the novel such as her inability to breastfeed Tita. The ideals of a family are a bit modern with Mama Elena being allowed to be the patriarch of the family, her husband’s brother or other men in the community might have dethroned her from the role of a family leader.
The era seems to be more receptive of gender roles. For example, when Gertrudis, runs off with a general of the Revolutionary army, but later comes back as the leader of the army, herself. The community seems to be living in a transitional period, where women are allowed some freedom, and yet expected to stick to traditional roles. Tita and Nacha are portrayed as traditional women, taking up the roles of nurturing children and preparing food in the novel
(Esquivel 6). The productivity roles for the two characters lay in nurturing the next generation since they step up to help Mama Elena and Rosaura in breastfeeding the young (Esquivel 49).
Both characters are highly involved in kitchen responsibilities, preparing food for the other members of the family, and in the case of Tita, Nacha was her tutor in cooking. In considering the contributions of food in the plot, it represents a major component towards the growth and development of the community.
There is symbolism in the use of food in the novel, as it forms the foundation of development. Food plays various functions such as interactions in the family, and in social events. The concept of food, made by women, represents the role of women, in a
traditional setting in society. Women are depicted as capable of playing the traditional roles, as well as the roles associated with men, which include administrative, military, and political roles.
The role of women in the society as shown in the novel presents a shift into modernism, where women can do everything that a man can, and still perform the traditional roles. The boundaries of gender roles have been demolished to empower women, with their position justified as being able to practice the traditions of the community. In this novel you can tell the author tries to eliminate the threat of an uncontrolled revolution in society, as well as social principles, patterns and trends of the community. The shift of change in women in society are inevitable, but it does not intimidate the values of the society, and the women are just as capable as men.