Symbolism In Like Water For Chocolate

Like Water For Chocolate Essay
Moms, where would we be without them? In Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel this question is answered through the perspective of different characters. Placed during the Mexican Revolution Tita, the protagonists, struggles in her pursuit for happiness. Pinned down by society and traditions that date back many generations ago her life becomes a constant fight that has no clear winner. Her mother, Mama Elena, on the other hand tries to preserve the traditional life that Tita struggles to cope with. These polar opinions clash in Like Water For Chocolate and with the aid of symbolism Laura Esquivel showcases how these two ways of thinking are reflective of human nature. Laura Esquivel uses symbolism to comment
on what it means to be a mother.
Laura Esquivel uses the symbol of the shotgun to show being a mother by being a strict and stern individual. In May it is said how Mama Elena, Tita’s mother, held her own against the rebels using a shotgun to protect Tita, Chencha(the house-maid), and the ranch. When the rebels confront her she is told to step aside but she doesn’t and holds her ground against the leader. The leader at a lost for words looks Mama Elena in the eye and notices that Mama Elena is not an individual to be reckoned with and so he commands his troops to follow Mama Elena’s orders and only take what is outside. “They fell prisoner to a childlike fear of maternal authority”(pg 90). The rebels and their leader coward from Mama Elena out of fear of being punished by her; as if they were her children. Furthermore this shows how Mama Elena’s strict and stern attitude not only puts fear in her daughters but also puts the same exact fear in those who challenge her. By Mama Elena putting fear into anyone that challenges this shows that she may not be caring but uses her power to shape individuals into what she thinks is best. Therefore this shows that Mama Elena uses fear as power over her daughters to shape them into “proper” women. Another example of how Mama Elena’s actions are perceived by other people is when the leader of the rebels says, “Such a valiant woman will always have my admiration”(pg 90). When the general says this he means that Mama Elena’s character makes him admire her. By saying this the general shows that Mama Elena leads by example. A man admiring a woman for their character especially at this time shows that the reason why she is so strict on her daughters is because she doesn’t want them to have be seen as inferior to another person based on their gender. Therefore this shows that Mama Elena does care for her daughters but only to an external extent. Meaning that she is trying protect them from a men dominated society. As a result this shows that by Mama Elena acting strict and stern she is able to care for her children.
Tita breastfeeding Roberto shows being a mother by being nurturing and caring.
When Rosaura, Tita’s sister, isn’t able to breastfeed her child Tita is tasked with finding a way to feed the child. Tita tries many different foods but the child rejects everyone of them. This puts Tita in a really agonizing position because the child wants breast milk but Tita has none to give since she was not married. Yet as the baby kept crying Tita just couldn’t bear to hear him cry any more so she offered her breast to the baby,”Immediately Tita let him take her breast until his hunger was completely satisfied and he was sleeping peacefully, like a saint”(pg 76). Tita couldn’t stand the pain of baby so she gave him her “magical” milk to soothe him. This shows how Tita acts motherly by nurturing the child and supporting it in order to make the baby happy. Furthermore this shows how the way she cares for children is to support them and make sure they are happy. An example of how Tita’s way of caring is seen by other people is on pg 76 when it says,”At this moment Tita looked like Ceres herself, goddess of plenty.” This says how Tita appears to be a goddess in the eyes of Pedro, Tita’s true love. Tita appearing to be a goddess shows that she is extremely affectionate and caring to the child. Also Tita being compared to a goddess shows that her love radiates and protects everyone that she cares about in an overlooking and supernatural way that is reassuring and safe. Furthermore, the way that Tita acts as a mother not only benefits those she is caring for but also those that surround her. As a result this shows how Tita breastfeeding symbolizes how she acts as a
mother.
Rosaura's actions as a mother symbolizes being a mother for personal gain. Rosaura battles with Pedro and Tita over Esperanza’s education. Rosaura believes that Esperanza doesn’t need an education because Esperanza doesn’t need one to take care of Rosaura.”If Esperanza’s only lot in life was to take care of her mother forever, she didn’t have any need for fancy ideas; what she needed was to study piano, sing, and dancing.”(pg 238) Rosaura here is saying how Esperanza only point in life will be to care for her Rosaura. Something that in her eyes does not need an education. Rosaura here is demonstrating how she views her daughter as only a pawn in her life towards happiness. Rosaura doesn’t care about how her daughter will do in the future she just wants her daughter to be there for her needs and nothing else. This is similar to just having Esperanza be her servant because she would be there just for the needs of her mother. As a result Rosaura as a mother just wants to manipulate her daughter for her own needs. Rosaura’s selfish desires are also shown when she refuses to allow the marriage of Esperanza and Alex. Both Tita and Pedro try to keep secret the love between Alex and Esperanza, but when Rosaura finds out she completely attacks Tita and Pedro and proclaims that Esperanza lot in life is just to serve her mother. “She fought with everything she had, she fought like a lioness to defend what according to her was her right-a daughter who stayed with her until she died.”(pg 239) Rosaura yet again here proclaims what according to tradition is her right to a daughter to care for her. She shows again how her selfishness has no sense of morality and just like Mama Elena she cause those closest to her to suffer; which in this case is her daughter. Using oppressive traditions she is able to cause the same pain to what Tita has gone through her whole life. With no care for the feelings of her daughter she takes Esperanza’s happiness and crushes it. Furthermore, Rosaura refusing to allow Esperanza to get married shows that she is a selfish mother who only seeks personal gain. Through Rosaura’s actions and words it conveyed that he seeks only personal gain as a mother.
The shotgun, Tita breastfeeding, and Rosaura’s behavior convey the ideas of Laura Esquivel of what it means to be a mother. A mother can be tough and lead by example, be nurturing and allow for young ones to blossom and feel safe, or manipulative and cause pain. Leading with an iron fist provides leadership and sense of order but at the same time it is a double edged sword. Being nurturing creates a safe space for everyone and allows for unmeasurable happiness. Being manipulative and evil just creates an environment in which pain and suffering is the order of the day. There is no perfect mother because everyone makes mistakes. In the world we grow with our mistakes not as in the book where change among characters is just not possible. Our mistakes are what make us human but what makes us humane is our ability to grow and become better people from it.