Like Water for Chocolate
Título
 In some Latin American
countries, such as Mexico, hot
chocolate is made not with
milk, but with water instead.
Water is boiled and chunks of
milk chocolate are dropped in
to melt. The saying "like water
for chocolate," alludes to this
fact and also to the common
use of the expression as a
metaphor for describing a state
of passion or sexual arousal. In
some parts of Latin America,
the saying is also equivalent to
being 'boiling mad' in anger.
Personajes
 Tita – the protagonist, youngest daughter of Mama Elena
 Mama Elena – forceful, tyrannical matriarch of the De La Garza family
 Pedro – Tita’s 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, unrequited love
 Nacha – the ranch cook, Tita’s mentor
 Chencha – Tita’s companion in the kitchen
 Roberto & Esperanza – children of Pedro and Rosaura
 Alex – son of Dr. Brown, father of the narrator. Marries Esperanza
Mexican Revolution
Most important modernizing
force in Mexican history
(1910-1917)
 During this time, peasants and natives banded together
under the leadership of figures such as Pancho Villa and
Emiliano Zapata to reject the old order's dictatorship,
revive democracy, and claim Mexico for the everyday man
and woman.
 Esquivel uses the revolution to explore themes of
masculinity and gender identity, and examine how
individuals appropriate for themselves the revolution's goal
of liberty.
Mexican Cuisine
 Known for
 its intense and varied flavors
 colorful decoration
 variety of spices that it has
 Mexican gastronomy, in terms of diversity of
appealing tastes and textures, is one of the richest
in the world, rich in proteins, vitamins, and
minerals, though some people unaccustomed to
eating it characterize it as greasy and excessively
spicy.
Mexican Family Values
 Mexican culture is known for the unified nature of the family.
The country's divorce rate is among the lowest in the world
(0.33 divorces per 1000 population, compared to 4.95 in the
United States) [1].
 Children regularly live with their parents until they marry, even
if they remain single until their thirties or later. It is also quite
common for family units to remain connected, often with
grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and children all living in
the same area or even in the same house.
 Loyalty within the family is absolute – brothers will fight for the
honor of their sisters, and family members are often tapped for
employment opportunities.
Source: <http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Culture_of_Mexico>
Parents in Mexico
 The roles of the parents in Mexican culture are generally
well-defined, with the father acting as the family's ruler
and the mother as the family's heart.
 A mother is often exclusively responsible for maintaining
the household and caring for the children, who as a result
often revere her, while fearing their authoritarian father.
Men and Women in Mexico
 Machismo (Spanish for "male chauvinism") is quite
common in Mexican families, with the father exercising
authority in a manner not unlike a dictatorship.
 Some have called adultery a social norm for men, and
abuse, both physical and emotional, is not uncommon.
Wives are generally expected to endure this treatment from
their husbands, and many consider it acceptable behavior.
 In the past few decades, these stereotypes have begun to
break down somewhat. As influences from the United
States continue to shape Mexican culture, machismo is
slowly becoming more recognized and despised, especially
in the northern part of the country, where the American
influence is more pronounced. In southern and more rural
communities, however, these basic behaviors continue to
exist.
Source: <http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Culture_of_Mexico>
Connections to the book:

Understanding the events of the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920
allows me to better understand the setting of Like Water for Chocolate.
The novel, which takes place during this time period, explores the
Mexican Revolution from the point of view of the feminine and
examines how different characters respond to the revolution's goal of
liberty. When I first read the part of the novel when Gertrudis, Tita’s
oldest sister, runs off with a revolutionary soldier and later returns as
the head of a revolutionary army, I didn’t quite understand what was
going on. However, after learning about the specific events and the
common person’s role within this revolution, I can picture the setting of
the book better. After learning more about the Mexican Revolution, I
can image what Gertrudis’s life as a soldier must be like even though
her story is not thoroughly explored within the plot of the book.