Like Water for Chocolate

1
Like Water for Chocolate

• Opening Powerpoint
• English III

2
About the Author

• Her name is Laura Esquivel.
• She is from Mexico City.
• She also wrote the screenplay when it became a
  movie.
• LWFC was published first in Spanish in 1989.
• It was translated into English in 1992.

3
Background Information

• The English-subtitled film became one of the most
  popular foreign-language films in American film
  history.
• It was the largest grossing foreign film ever
  released in the United States.

4
Genre Magical Realism

• Like Water for Chocolate belongs to the genre of
  magical realism.
• This is a style of storytelling, which infuses
  magical elements into mundane everyday
  situations, conditions, and practices.
• The idea is to reveal essential and extraordinary
  aspects of human relations imbedded in everyday
  activities.

5
Brief Synopsis

• Reportedly, Esquivel used an episode from her own
  family to write her book. She had a great-aunt
  named Tita, who was forbidden to wed.
• Tita never did anything but care for her own
  mother. Soon after her mother died, so did Tita.
• The book has been a tremendous international
  success The No. 1 best-selling book in Mexico
  for three years it's also been translated into
  23 languages.

6
Set-up

• Each chapter is a monthly installment" and
  labeled with the months of the year we learn of
  Tita's struggle to pursue true love and claim her
  independence.
• Each installment features a recipe to begin each
  chapter.
• Food is often a direct cause of physical and
  emotional unrest in the story, and serves as a
  medium through which emotions can be expressed.

7
Mexican Revolution of 1910

• For most of Mexico's developing history, a small
  minority of the people were in control of most of
  the country's power and wealth, while the
  majority of the population worked in poverty.
• As the rift between the poor and rich grew under
  the leadership of General Díaz, the political
  voice of the lower classes was also declining.
• Opposition of Díaz did surface, when Francisco I.
  Madero, educated in Europe and at the University
  of California, led a series of uprisings
  throughout the country.

8
Historical Context Cont

• Díaz was pressured into holding an election in
  1910, in which Madero was able to gather a
  significant number of the votes.
• Although Díaz was at one time a strong supporter
  of the one-term limit, he seemed to have changed
  his mind (surprise, surprise). He had Madero
  imprisoned, feeling that the people of Mexico
  just weren't ready for democracy.

9
Historical Context Cont

• Once Madero was released from prison, he
  continued his battle against Díaz in an attempt
  to have him overthrown.
• During this time, several other Mexican heroes
  began to emerge, including the well known Pancho
  Villa in the north, and the peasant Emiliano
  Zapata in the south.
• They were able to overcome the Mexican army and
  gain control of their respective regions.

10
Historical Context Cont

• Madero was eventually elected president, but
  received opposition from Emiliano Zapata.
• Zapata felt Madero wasnt acting quickly enough
  with his reforms and changes.
• In November of the same year, Zapata denounced
  Madero as president and took the position for
  himself.
• He chased out the estate owners and divided their
  lands up for the peasants.
• Later, in 1919, Zapata was assassinated due to an
  order from General Pablo Gonzalez.

11
Historical Context Cont

• It was during this time that the country broke
  into many different factions, and guerilla units
  roamed across the country destroying and burning
  down many large haciendas and ranches.
• Overall, this was a time of political unrest in
  Mexico, which left the everyday citizens in
  constant fear of looting and violence by
  soldiers/militia.

12
Authors Purpose

• Esquivel uses the revolution to explore themes of
  masculinity and gender identity.
• She also explores the ideas of revolution and
  liberty, both literally with the war, and
  figuratively with Titas struggles within herself.

13
Main Characters

• Tita the protagonist, youngest daughter of Mama
  Elena
• Mama Elena forceful, tyrannical matriarch of
  the De La Garza family
• Pedro Titas true love and soul mate
• Rosaura second daughter of Mama Elena, who
  marries Pedro
• Gertrudis eldest daughter, becomes a general in
  the revolutionary army
• Dr. John Brown falls in love with Tita, they
  have an unrequited love
• Nacha the ranch cook, Titas mentor
• Chencha Titas companion in the kitchen
• Roberto Esperanza children of Pedro and
  Rosaura
• Alex son of Dr. Brown, father of the narrator.
  Marries Esperanza