Esquivel Response

Esquivel's novel "Like Water for Chocolate" is extremely different than any otehr novel I have ever read in other literature classes. Esquivel's writing kept me intrigued with the romance and passion she incorporated in her novel. I literally could not put the book down. I developed strong relationships with the characters in "Like Water for Chocolate", especially Tita.

Though it seems silly now, when I was younger, my parents forbid me to see a boy who I cared deeply for. Thought it was under different circumstances, I felt deeply hurt and wanted to run away so badly. In a way, I think this helped me connect with Tita on a personal leve. The hurt that I felt a few years ago that had bottled up inside of me came pouring out to the surface, and I completely related to Tita. How devistating it must have been to be forbidden to be with the man she so passionately loved. Moreover, how awful she must have felt seeing her sister marry her true love.

Unlike Tita, the man I was kept from seeing was most definitely not my true love. In fact, it is obvious to me now that my parents did me a favor, forcing me to drop all communication with him. This is far from the truth in Tita's case. Her mother was an angry, bitter, selfish woman who kept Tita from being happy. In any case, the way I feel now doesn't change the broken heart I once had. Tita most surely must have felt betrayed, and frustrated.

One thing I found interesting in the story was the use of magical realism. I found myself accepting the impossible because I felt so entranced in the novel. For example, in the beginning of "Like Water for Chocolate", Tita is born on the family's kitchen table. The author writes that Tita was born with so many tears, that there was nearly a flood ing the house on the ranch. The tears evaporated by the next day, but the salt from the tears was saved for cooking. In addition, another example is when Tita's sister Rosaras is unable to feed her baby naturally. Tita takes matters into her own hands, and when the baby does not accept anything that Tita prepares for him, Tita gives the baby her own breast. Surprisingly, her body produces the milk for the baby. Obviously, in the real world, something like this would not be possible. However, because Esquivel presents this occurance amongst real life situations, I was able to accept it and move on.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Esquivel's writing, and truly understood the information in the novel. She was very clear, and I loved the way the recipes were incorporated in the book. The magical realism used throughout the book gave an interesting, yet subtle twist to the story. I enjoyed the romance, and honestly, I didn't notice the absence of most male characters until after analyzing the story.