Like Water for Chocolate: An Analysis of the Magical Realism in the Story - Essay Example

Like Water for Chocolate: An analysis of the Magical Realism in the Story

In "Like Water for Chocolate", Laura Esquivel explores the turbulences in mother-daughter relationships and love in a Latin American family setting. The novel is full of twists and turns that are enhanced by her exceptional use of literary tools. The most notable literary component used in the story is magical realism. The author incorporates the religious-mythical component of magical realism in everyday experiences at the domestic setting of a female-dominated family. In the story, magical realism expresses the feelings of the characters, provide a unique viewpoint of the characters experiences, exaggerates the ideas, and offers a comic relief in situations that have sad or gloomy connotations.

Magical realism is a compelling literary movement that utilizes a creative license to use peculiar elements or creations in the story. It has “an ‘irreducible’ magic which cannot be explained by typical notions of natural law” (Hart and Ouyang 8). The author is at liberty to use ghost, magic or enhance the character with supernatural powers. The goal of magical realism is to insert a dimension that is not conceived as normal but elevates a regular situation. However, magical realism still intends to be closer to reality as opposed to inclining heavily towards fantasy. As such, the author addresses the human issues in the real human setting but incorporates magical elements to exaggerate or stress on particular issues. In “Like Water for Chocolate”, the author maintains and inserts magical realism elements through ghosts such as the ghost of Mama Elena while retaining the focus on the human issues of the Latin American Family (Hart and Ouyang 44). The first instance of magical realism in the story comes from Tita’s birth. The author notes that “Tita was literally washed into this world on a great tide of tears that spilled over the edge of the table and flooded across the kitchen floor” (Esquivel 10). Clearly, there is an abnormal depiction of Tita’s birth that helps to set the mood or prepare the reader for a story that is rich in elements of magical realism. A notable glimpse of Tita’s future is present. The author alludes that the life of Tita will be covered with strange happening, unexpected twists, and turns and general struggles to find love, relate to her mother, and find love. As such, the reader begins to accept the supernatural elements as part of the story and character’s lives. Not only does the instance of magical realism exaggerate the situation but also alludes to the future or plight of the character. The author uses magical realism to set the tone for other instances of abnormal occurrences. The magical realism also serves the purpose of extending the plot in an intriguing manner that the reader can look forward to.

The author blends the story with magical realism to show the feelings of the characters. The feelings of the characters is an important element in the plot. As such, through magical realism, Esquivel reinforces the plot and the major themes of love, and strained relationships. At the point where Rosaura was cleared by Mama Elena to marry Pedro, the author notes that “When she looked at Rosaura, who was writing out some invitations, she saw a snowy Ghost” (Esquivel 34). This instance depicts the Tita’s feelings towards the marriage between her sister and the man she loved dearly. Though she did not utter anything, the features of magical realism in a snowy ghost shows the confusion she was experiencing at the time. She could not utter anything to question the decision because her mother had extreme power over her and her decisions. Tita also kept some of the feelings that the author reflects by including a picture of a host in the form of Rosaura. Another example of magical realism in the book used to support the plot and themes is when Gertrudis eats the quail in rose petals prepared by Tita. "Her body was giving off so much heat that the wooden walls began to split and burst into flame" (Esquivel 54). Gertrudis became aroused so much that the author intends to show that the intensity of the feeling was very high. At this instance, magical realism is used to exaggerate the plot element to show the impact of the happenings. The author exaggerates the arousal details through the magical description that the feelings would burn the wooden shower. This relays that Gertrudis has strong suppressed sexual feelings. The exaggerations offered by magical realism also depicts the magnitude of human tensions and conflicts in “Like Water for Chocolate”. This helps the reader to see the real intensity. For example, the extent of how death affected Tita after the death of her nephew can be showcased. According to Esquivel, "the milk in her breasts had dried up overnight from the pain of her separation from her nephew” (84). This instance shows that the death of Roberto took a heavy toll on her. Essentially, it is unnatural for the milk to dry overnight but the author shows that the love between Tita and Roberto was very strong and that she was devastated by the death. Latin American Literature often uses magical realism to exaggerate vital elements to show their magnitude. Consequently, showing the magnitude reinforces the plot. In Like Water for Chocolate, the exaggeration in the case of Gertrudis that comes from magical realism shows the power of love. The exaggeration achieved by magical realism in the case of Tita and Roberto also shows the power of love and the sensitive nature of Tita. Thus, the author’s use of magical realism, especially to exaggerate stresses the main points of the novel and areas that need maximum attention.

The magical realism in the book reinforces the character's attitudes. It exposes their real nature, feelings, and inclinations towards others. In Latin American Literature, magical realism is particularly used to depict the state of the relationship between people by evaluating the relationship between them. As such, Esquivel exposes the interpersonal relations for what they truly are by showing the feelings in a magical realism perspective. The author concentrates on eth relationship between Tita and her Mother Mama Elena. When Mama Elena gets sick, and her daughter decides to take care of her, the author uses magical realism to show the feelings Mama Elena had towards her daughter’s decision to take care of her. She spits the food Tita prepares for her. Consequently, Tita reacts angrily. “Inside she felt the effects of snuffing the flame: smoke was rising into her throat, tightening into a thick knot, clouding her eyes and making her cry” (Esquivel 120). This instance depicts the Tita’s response towards her mother’s behavior and exposes the larger conflict between the two. It shows that Tita was very angry. To some extent, there is a comical relief from envisioning the rage that Tita experienced. This excerpt also portrays the condition of Latin American women while dealing with inconsiderate family members. They have a tendency to get irritated fast when their efforts are not appreciated. They are also expected to be in control of their lives and household duties. “She must exercise great care to keep her sentimental relations as private as possible, and, most important of all, she must be in control of life in her house, which means essentially the kitchen and bedroom or food and sex” (Valdés 186). It is unfortunate that Mama Elena does not grant Tita the chance to grow as per the expectations.

Through magical realism, the chief theme of struggles for character identity is strengthened. Magical realism promotes the expose of feelings of the characters and the relationships as a combination. Throughout the story, Tita struggles to get her will to marry Pedro because of her mother’s dominion over her. In Latin America, it is common for mothers to exercise dominion over their children, especially females in matters of marriage. The author intends to capture this in the story by incorporating elements of magical realism that show the struggles in the strained relationship between mothers and daughters. After the death of Mama Elena after an overdose of a medicinal syrup, she comes back to exercise dominion over her daughter. When Tita was cooking bread for King’s Day Bread, “…a strong gust of wind banged the kitchen door wide open, causing an icy blast to invade the room” (Esquivel 157). Esquivel manages to use the ghost of Mama Elena to promote the effect in the plot so that she can continue to show how mothers in Latin American communities can go over and beyond to control their daughters. Additionally, the magical element of the ghost serves as the foundation for the Tita’s character development. While the ghost continues to harass her, Tita finally stands up to it and ejects it by claiming "I know who I am! A person who has a perfect right to live her life as she pleases. Once and for all, leave me alone, I won't put up with you! I hate you, I've always hated you!" (Esquivel 180). Ultimately, the author succeeds in developing characters, exposing the feelings in the strained relationship and developing the plot systematically by using magical realism.

In conclusion, “Like Water for Chocolate’ is a strong example of a novel that embodies magical realism. The author succeeds in using magical realism to create an interesting novel that exposes the feelings of the characters, exposes their viewpoints, and exaggerates vital issues to further the plot and themes. The magical realism components are also relevant to real issues in the Latin American setting from where the author comes from and the novel is based.