Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

1647 Words4 Pages

Personal freedom is an inalienable right that everyone deserves. It is a powerful idea that provides courage for those who are afraid, infuses hope to those who are desperate, and grants strength to those who are oppressed. However, for the idea to come to reality, one must be mature enough to embrace and act upon it. The novel Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel tells the story of Tita, a young girl who lives under the iron fisted rule of Mama Elena. From a young inexperienced girl, to a full grown and independent woman, Tita fights against Mama Elena’s rules before and after her death, in order to make her own choice about herself. Through her struggle for freedom, Tita molds herself into a mature woman.
At the beginning of the novel, Tita presents herself as an immature, and defenseless girl in the face of Mama Elena’s rule because of her inability to stand up for herself and rebel against Mama Elena. The start of the novel tells the reader about Tita’s dear lover, Pedro, who she could not marry due to the tradition of the family. Even though Pedro and Tita are madly in love, Mama Elena brutally denies Tita’s request in marry Pedro. While Tita does try to rebel, her action and result is not satisfactory, and she accepts her defeat: “Tita lowered her head, and the realization of her fate struck her as forcibly as her tears struck the table. From then on they knew, she and the table, that they would never have even the slightest voice in the unknown forces that fated Tita to bow before her mother’s absurd rule” (11). This is the very first moment that the readers get a glimpse of Mama Elena’s iron fisted rule. Being a young fearful girl, Tita does not know how to deal with this cold-blooded decision. At that moment, Tita ...

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... – Pedro. As Tita finally gains full liberty, she has also grew to become a strong, liberated woman who is capable of making mature choice about her life.
Tita matures a great deal through her quest for independence and control over her fate. The Tita at the end of the novel is a completely different character than the Tita at the start of the novel. She is able to make considerate, and well thought out decision for herself and the people around her without hesitation. Tita overcomes multiple obstacles along her journey in search of liberty, even when Mama Elena and the people around Tita exerts tremendous pressure on her. The novel Like Water for Chocolate displays the power of freedom through the perspective of Tita, which gives the readers the realization that no matter how hard one may try, no one can be forever oppressed; eventually they will grow and revolt.

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