Like Water For Chocolate Rebel

What is a rebel? A rebel is a person that fights authority. A rebel is someone who opposes her parents. When talking about Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, this is the perfect definition of a rebel. Why? The second definition is the more accurate definition because it sums up what Gertrudis De La Garza is. Don’t get me wrong; both definitions serve Gertrudis justice. The first one just describes Gertrudis in a very vague and general way. The second definition taps into more detail that defines her role in the dictatorship run by Mama Elena.
When did she become a rebel? It wasn’t until Pedro and Tita displayed their secret. On this night, Tita made quail in rose petal sauce. This was the night that Gertrudis was the vessel of communication

for Pedro and Tita. Within Gertrudis’ body she felt all of the passion, rage and desire between the two secret love birds. After dinner was done, Gertrudis was still feeling “hot”. She thought if she took a shower it would help her greatly. While bathing outside she let off the delicate yet potent aroma of roses. The next thing that happened was she was swept off of her feet by a soldier on a horse, who once caught her eye at a market. Let’s just say that things got steamy on that poor horse. Once that soldier came and picked up Gertrudis, she never returned. Over time she still possessed the strong desire that was within her, so she ended up working in a brothel. She did this to put out this flame that she sheltered inside her. She said that she worked in the brothel because that one soldier wasn’t able to put out her flame and she had exhausted him. At this time it was thought that she would not return to the ranch. I theorized that she would not return because she was happy with who she became. It is nothing that Mama Elena wanted, but in Gertrudis’ eyes Mama Elena has her own life she can run, and sadly she had Tita’s to run too, but she would not run Gertrudis’ life as well.
Gertrudis had great support for Tita and Pedro’s secret love.

The reason why the readers can tell that she is about the only one who had support for that “illegal” love, was because she was the only one at the Quail in Rose Petal Sauce dinner that became aware of something strange. She was the only one who notice that both Tita and Pedro were outside of their physical self. Better yet, she was the only one who was used as a vessel for the communication for Tita and Pedro’s love connection. “With that meal it seemed they had discovered a new system of communication, in which Tita was the transmitter, Pedro the receiver, and poor Gertrudis the medium, the conducting body through which the singular sexual message was passed” (pg.52 LWFC). In this quote it says how the system was set up. Tita was having many physical sensation within her when she penetrated Pedro’s farthest corners. The readers can theorize that Gertrudis had support of their relationship because, Mama Elena and Rosaura didn’t so they weren’t aware of the out of body experiences that Tita and Pedro were having. They also didn't have a physical reaction to the food as Gertrudis did, nor did they notice her

reactions.
Why is Gertrudis a rebel? Gertrudis is a rebel because it was her calling. Up until that moment when her senses clicked, telling her that she needed to leave the ranch, she never really actually had a purpose. Mama Elena her mother, was the dictator of the ranch. Rosaura was the vessel that Mama Elena would live through, starting the day she died. Tita was a civilian who overcame the wrath of the dictator, otherwise known as her mother. So what role did that leave Gertrudis? The middle child that is an echo, not one who possesses a voice? The gray between the black and white? Sadly, none of these roles reflected Gertrudis for the character she truly was.
Another theory of why she became a rebel was because it really was her calling.

She is the product of Mama Elena and her African American lover boy. She was the product of something out of the ordinary so she shall live a life that is out of the ordinary. In a very small way she shares her rebellious quality with her mother. Mama Elena was caught loving a negro, and was frowned upon because of it. Did that stop her from loving him? No. Did that stop her from becoming the best mom she can be, or a mom that keep her household together once her husband passed away? No. So who says that Gertrudis can’t be a whore and still be a good person. She is the product of an out of the ordinary couple, so she will be out of the ordinary, showing also that Gertrudis can be a good person while being “lovable.” The end of the book shows that Gertrudis does turn out to be a good person. Better yet, she comes back as a general in the army, shocking

everyone.
Gertrudis’ rebellion was a good thing for her, but what her sister Tita? When Gertrudis rebelled against her mother, she practically further trapped Tita. Tita was now ten feet deeper under her mother’s dictatorship (figuratively speaking). When Gertrudis left Mama Elena tighten her grip on her other two children. So, when one of her children left, and dishonored the family name, Mama Elena became more strict. She provided Tita with the close to no leeway. Tita always had to be in the eyesight of Mama Elena (due to Pedro living in the house). Mama Elena didn’t change the way she treated Rosaura. Rosaura was seen as the child with the halo. Tita felt hopeless while Gertrudis was away. Tita's life became more worse, just when the reader thought it wasn't possible. Yes, Gertrudis’ rebellion was good for her, but for Tita? No.
Gertrudis De La Garza. What is Gertrudis? Gertrudis is a person that fights authority. Gertrudis is someone who rebels against her parents. Gertrudis is the one who was a voice; she is not just another echo. She shows that if you obey all rules, you really do miss all the fun.