1. Like Water For Chocolate Como Agua Para Chocolate
Laura Esquivel, born in Mexico, 1950
Grew up in Mexico City; attended Escuela Normal de Maestros
"I grew up in a modern home, but my grandmother lived across the street in an old house that was built when churches were illegal in Mexico.

2. Historical Context
Mexican revolution: began in 1910…culminated in the Mexican Constitution in 1917
Women’s role in society
Machismo v. Women’s suffrage
Masculine superiority is culturally accepted
Not always gender-specific

3. Like Water For Chocolate Themes
Duty and Responsibility, Obedience
Tears
Cruelty and violence
Supernatural: Magic Realism
Victim/victimization
Sex roles
Love and passion
Sanity
Creativity
Food

4. Symbolism Fire Water The title of the book Food
Heat, Passion, Danger, Destruction, Creation
Water
Creates, nourishes, destroys
The title of the book
What happens to chocolate when water is introduced to it?
Food
As sustenance, as magic, as an aphrodisiac, as an article of control and manipulation

5. Key Characters 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

6. Chapter Organization Month by Month
January: Christmas Rolls
February: Chabela Wedding Cake
March: Quail in Rose Petal Sauce
April: Turkey Mole with Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds
May: Northern Style Chorizo
June: A Recipe for Making Matches
July: Ox Tail Soup
August: Champandongo
September: Chocolate and Three Kings Day Bread
October: Cream Fritters
November: Beans with Chile Tezcucana Style
December: Chiles in Walnut Sauce

7. La Pregunta Principal
What are the primary roles that food plays in Like Water For Chocolate?
We’ve already discussed that food operates (symbolizes…) as sustenance, magic, aphrodisiac, and an article of control and manipulation…
But how else does Tita use food?