Introduction
This novel revolves around kitchen, and its contextual interpretation is in the Mexican society. The recipe was a major element to the Mexican kitchen, and it signified the life endeavors in this society. The thesis of this essay is a discussion on various attributes of the Mexican kitchen through the ailing Mama Elena, her three daughters and the surrounding love inferno between Tita and Pedro in the contextual ranch setup.
1. What was the general interpretation of this novel, and what impacts did it have? ( what conversations did it start or what understanding did the book generally bring to those who appreciated it?
Magical realism is the art in literature that employs different concepts that are brought together by their common acceptance of use of magic in the normal rational world. This art is involves use of designs, normally applicable in myths, and fables in otherwise normal everyday circumstances. “This mundane environment can be described in words too strange to believe to have happened”; just like water for chocolate by Laura esquivel uses this technique to describe the love story between Tita and Pedro. The award winning novel describes the life of Tita; a young woman who lives in her mother’s shadows such that she is not able to live a life of her own, in fact, this novel is centered on hard life experienced by the main characters to an extent that they are compelled to the wish of other people (Maslin 1). The story is set in twelve sections that are labeled according to the month of the year from January to December, and although it may create the illusion that the events transpired within one year, it actually tells the story over a period of twenty years. This tool of literature is well utilized by Esquivel to the level that she even describes sexual scenes by simply describing the feel and taste of every bite of the food that Tita prepares. This paper gives an assessment of the impact that the book had on the readers, their text interpretation, and the overall legacy and relevance of the novel in today’s world.
The major impact that the novel has on the reader is that it is inspirational. It tells the story of an unending love between the protagonist Tita and Pedro that withstand endless challenges over a period of twenty long years. Pedro even marries Tita’s sister so as to get close to her(Esquivel 117).The book triggered a conversation of just how far a man would be willing to go so as to be closer to woman that he is in love with. The events in the novel also arouse interest in the traditions in various societies that the senior sister has to be married before the younger ones. This debate is unending, and the tradition has been found to be unfair and backward (Noriega 163). It has been argued that this tradition leads to the younger sisters’; who have already found love to spend years waiting for their older sisters to be married and this may never happen. The books depiction of how love can be expressed in cooking has really given meaning to the phrase that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This expression is manifest in Pedro’s love for Tita’s food, and how the quail cooked in rose’s recipe stirs up emotions in Getrudis such that she runs off to marry her love in the army. This book really stirred up debates in the literary community, and it has been used as a reference to bad parenting and a lack of freedoms that limit the extent a couple can showcase their love (Winder 1).
This book generates an emotional sensation of various uniqueness associated with the Mexican cuisines and wild romance, now earthed by archaic tradition. This book story starts on an understanding of traditional predispositions leveled against Tita by her own mother. Mama Elena is determined to have her will reign on her daughter, and destines her daughter’s fate upon her life demands, which are often marred with traditional litigations. According to Coffin (1), Tita is under life sentencing to a life of service to her own mother. This book thus triggered a common understanding to its audience since they actualized the 12 seasons of Mexican Cuisines, and the love triangle between Pedro and Tita, and comes in the backdrop of strict traditional watch. The matriarch; Mama Elena lets her will prevail in her daughter’s matrimonial destiny, and cast a strong demand that she would never get married to any man. This is yet another point of conflict, yet conformity of the audience’s view that the traditional laws were really underpinning to personal wish and consent.
2. What is your interpretation of the novel, and how does it differ from the other view you outlined?
My interpretation of the novel does not differ greatly with what has already been expressed by book reviewers and fan forums. I am however inclined to the notion that the novel is centered on the struggle of Tita and her mother. Their disagreements form the basis for the whole love story and in many ways significantly steers the events in the story. The mother-daughter relationship is characterized by difficulties from the start. This is evident from the time when Tita was just fifteen years old to years later when she is a grown up and her mother has already died. Her mother still haunts her as a ghost trying to control her decisions. Indeed, my interpretation to this story is that of strong love shared between Pedro and Tita, even after the estranged marriage between Rosaura and Pedro, the early lovebirds still find this strong emotional affliction. In addition, I would interpret this novel as anchored on the tyranny of the tradition that predisposes archaic demands on ladies, who should have made independent decisions (Screen Thoughts 1). In fact, Pedro’s shared love with Tita becomes shortchanged in order to give way to the demands of an archaic tradition. This is my general interpretation of the novel, and it is by no means different from the above interpreted notion. However, the slightest difference that this interpretation has with the above interpretation relates to the strong emotional attachment that I give to this novel; In fact, my interpretative paradigm gives the novel a very stronger emotional attachment based on romance and estranged love. Other than these interpretive paradigms, I find a point of conformity in my interpretation with the interpretation of the book given above. However, my interpretation gives something deeper into the novel and wades further beyond recipe inferno. While, the first interpretation gives a plain view of the recipes amazement in the Mexican cuisines, I however, give it a deeper notion. In this context, my notion is supported by article published by Screen Thoughts. According to Screen Thoughts (1), the 12-months Mexican cuisines held a deeper secret to this novel, and Esquivel might have intentionally applied these excerpts in order to bring out the undying love that Tita had for Pedro. The recipes prepared by Tita were a communication channel in disguise as she exploited every opportunity to exhibit her love for Pedro. In as much as the opportunity did not favor Tita’s candidature for Pedro, the communication was presented well through her task as a cook. This article further reiterates that Esquivel was determined to invoke an instinctual and sensual realism from the foods that Tita had prepared during the wedding, and even later. This is a form of magical realism behind the 12 main cuisines prepared by Tita in order to win back the love she desired most. Indeed, this narrative gives an account of difference between my interpretation and the general interpretation expressed in the first question.
3. What evidence did you find for your specific interpretation, outside of the work done by other critics
The ultimate impact that the book has is felt when Tita is able to detach herself from the slavery and control that she has been under from her mother, and she eventually casts her off her life. She receives redemption and she is now able to continue with her life freely. This can be translated to represent the struggles we face on a daily basis, and the obstacles that are holding us back. Tita’s mother in her life form represents our responsibilities that instead of helping us grow only pull us back and prevent us from achieving our dreams and goals. Pedro is seen to represent our dreams and their love can represent success. Tita is faced by many challenges in the form of the awful tradition, the mental breakdown as well as distractions such as the good doctor who wanted to marry her (Winder 1). She also faces loses such as the death of her nephew whom she had grown attached to and he represented a possible link to her dreams. Her mother in ghost form represents how we let our past to hold us back in life.
Maslin (1) cites that food and passion are two factors that create a sublime alchemy in this novel. The kitchen gives clearer insights of romantic conflict triggered by family and traditional demands. This article reiterates that it was due to the stronger determination by Tita to have Pedro that she decided to play magic in the food so as to express her feeling for him. The kitchen was the place where witchcrafts were practiced since meals prepared could fill the diner with lust of grief and nausea, and this was subject to the prevailing moods of the cook. Considering Tita’s construed mood, she often prepared the meal in agitation for the shortchanged love. Since Tita belonged to the Kitchen right from her birth time, she exploits every platform within her niche to lament for her lost love, and if possible change the strong will of her ailing mother that she should never be married. This evidence by Maslin gives insights of the novel, and further invokes new notions of this poem with regards to magic, the kitchen inferno, and the associated cuisines.
According to Esquivel (1), the novel is set on the ranch, which is the soul of the novel. At the ranch, fate takes an ugly twist since Tita’s imagination to bond with Pedro fails, and this leads to a new onslaught triggered by Tita to express her disappointment and love to Pedro. The two exchange their love message through a series of meal times, and every meal time that Tita prepares, there is a strange sensation of magic.
4. What is this novel's legacy? how is it taught today? What is still relevant in the book?
The novel has had a great impact on the society, and it is used as a literary reference book in literature studies because of its great relevance in everyday life as well as the many themes and literature tools it contains (Coffin 1). This book is taught as a reflection to the Mexican society that was construed by cultural and traditional predispositions in the family. In fact, this novel holds a greater relevance in the present society since certain practices are still inherent with the modern generations. Other modes of teaching to this novel include; comparative attribute where the social practices in the Mexican society are compared against the current generations. In as much as certain social values like strict customs on marriages have been erased by time, these practices still hold grounds in certain setups like African and the Asian subcontinents. Indeed, Africans would hold to the laws inscribed in this novel, and expect girls to be married based on their ages of birth.
Indeed, there is no novel that is as emotionally invocative like Water for Chocolate. This is legacy in making since it creates a sensual instincts and sexual energy. I love the scene where Gertrudis cools off her body after eating a Quail in Rose Petal Sauce (Coffin 1). In addition, this novel leaves a remarkable legacy since it gives connection between magic, real life romance, and traditional presages. This novel is equally unique, very entertaining, and passionate through the interaction between its characters.
Conclusion
Indeed, this novel embodies a series of social manifestation in the Mexican traditional society. One such predisposition refers to the wit of the parents, which seems to control the destiny of their children. There is betrothed love shared between Pedro and Tita, which shapes up every discourse in the novel. Besides, the bewitching and magic is a cornerstone to the development of the novel and its plot in entirety. These are the key themes that are developed in the novel.
Works Cited
Coffin, Amy. "Like Water for Chocolate review and impact analysis." the book haven.net. http://thebookhaven.homestead.com/z_like_water_for_chocolate.html
Esquivel, Laura. Like water for chocolate. Mexico, 1989.Print.
Maslin Janet. Like Water for Chocolate; Review/Film; Emotions So Strong You Can Taste Them. New York Times. 1993. Print. http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE7DA1438F934A25751C0A965958260
Noriega, Sánchez M. R. Challenging Realities: Magic Realism in Contemporary American Women's Fiction. València: Universitat de València, 2002. Print.
Screen Thoughts. Like Water for Chocolate (Esquivel) - Book Reviews. Lit Lovers. http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/13-fiction/8751-like-water-for-chocolate-esquivel?start=2
Winder, Robert. "Book Review. Lovers slowly roasting in flames of passion: 'Like Water for Hot Chocolate' - Laura Esquivel, Tr. Carol & Thomas Christensen: Doubleday, 6.99 pounds. 1993. Literal Edition. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/book-review-lovers-slowly-roasting-in-flames-of-passion-like-water-for-hot-chocolate-laura-esquivel-1473914.html
Laura Esquivel. Like Water for Chocolate. Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-42016-7. http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-385-42016-7
