Forced to Conform: Tita’s Unfortunate Fate in Like Water for Chocolate

takes place directly against her mother, marks a pivotal moment in the novel.

When Chencha reveals Roberto's death to Tita and Mama Elena, Tita expresses her frustration by telling her mother that she is tired of obeying her orders (Esquivel 89). Mama Elena reacts violently by hitting Tita on the face with a wooden spoon. Tita then accuses her mother of killing Roberto, highlighting how she has broken free from Mama Elena's controlling behavior (Esquivel 89). This powerful instance exposes Tita's fierce spirit and defiance in the face of oppression. The reader is left to wonder about the consequences of Mama Elena's character and actions.

The impact of Tita's rebellion on the novel is significant, as it leads to Dr. Brown taking her in to care for her after an alleged breakdown. However, Tita struggles to adapt to her newfound freedom in Dr. Brown's home, having been accustomed to strict control over her actions and movements while at her own house. As stated in the novel, "what she had to do with her hands was strictly determined, no questions asked" (98).

Esquivel highlights the extent of Mama Elena's control over Tita when Tita visits Dr. Brown's house and realizes she is free from her usual duties. Tita is unsure of how to behave without tasks such as fixing breakfast, feeding animals, and washing dishes, which she has never had to think about before. This section of the novel emphasizes the detrimental impact of Mama Elena's control on Tita's independence, leaving readers to wonder how one can cope with such restraint. Esquivel illustrates Tita's coping mechanism through her relationship with food.

Tita's cooking is

known to affect the emotions of those who indulge in it. This is evident from the incident during Rosaura and Pedro's wedding. While preparing the wedding cake, Tita infused her emotions, which made the guests who ate it cry and wail over lost love. The impact of Tita's sorrow put into the cake had overwhelmed their emotions. This also highlights Tita's ability to control emotions through her food. Another instance of this was when Pedro presented Tita roses.

Despite Mama Elena's request to discard them, Tita used the roses Pedro gave her to make a sauce infused with her longing for him. The resulting dish had a powerful effect on Gertrudis, acting as an aphrodisiac and causing her to become naked and sweaty with the scent of roses. Juan, a soldier, was drawn to her by this intoxicating aroma and they made love. This seems to suggest that Tita's cooking has the ability to control the emotions of those who consume it, driven by the passion she puts into her food.

The impact of Tita's feelings infused in food on the characters in Esquivel's novel is demonstrated by Juan's reaction to the smell emanating from Gertrudis who ate it. Even though Juan didn't eat the food, he was still affected by it emotionally. Furthermore, Gertrudis' decision to take a shower to cool down is a significant moment in the novel because it highlights the importance of temperature control. Temperature control is a recurring theme in Esquivel's novel, where cold represents lack of emotion. Tita experienced an "infinite coldness" (18) in her heart upon discovering Pedro and Rosaura's engagement. The narrator noted that this feeling persisted "for

as long as she lived" (21), signifying how important temperature control is to the characters in the story.

Tita's reaction reveals her inner sense of lovelessness, as she is unable to ease the ache of not being with Pedro, her beloved, which the chill symbolizes. Conversely, warmth indicates affection. Dr.'s presence intensifies her conflicting emotions.

In Brown's house, his affection towards her gave her a daily boost. This quote portrays Dr. Brown's love and how it impacts one's emotions. The title of Esquivel's novel showcases the importance of temperature control, which also serves as the moral lesson. When preparing chocolate, it is crucial to regulate the water temperature. "Once the water boils, take it off the heat, and mix in the chocolate until thoroughly combined; use a chocolate-mill to blend it smoothly" (162).

The process of returning the water to heat and beating it twice more has profound significance for Tita. It illustrates the danger of excessive passion and despair, both of which must be controlled like chocolate can be controlled in this recipe. Esquivel's novel "Like Water for Chocolate" employs chocolate-making as a metaphor for love and sadness, highlighting the importance of controlling one's emotions. Through literary devices such as imagery, Esquivel emphasizes the theme of control throughout the novel.

The author's depiction of Mama Elena's cruel nature is a symbol for the power she holds over Tita, as evidenced by the line "Mama Elena was merciless, killing with a single blow" (47). This illustrates Mama Elena's ability to quickly end a life, while also revealing that "she had been killing [Tita] a little at a time since she was a child" (47). This symbolic representation

can be attributed to Mama Elena's control over Tita, which has been present throughout her entire life. Even though Mama Elena grants Tita an "exception" (47), she continues to "kill" (47) Tita emotionally. While Mama Elena is not physically taking Tita's life, her actions cause great pain and suffering. Cruelty and passion are central themes in Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate, which shape the narrative's impact on readers.

The author employs several literary devices such as Mama Elena's influence over her daughters, temperature, food, Tita's disobedience, and imagery to convey their concern. These techniques evoke the reader's emotions and impart a positive moral message.