Like Water for Chocolate

1. Like Water for Chocolate Opening Powerpoint English III

2. About the Author • Her name is Laura Esquivel. • She is from Mexico City. • She also wrote the screenplay when it became a movie. • LWFC was published first in Spanish in 1989. • It was translated into English in 1992.

3. Background Information • The English-subtitled film became one of the most popular foreign-language films in American film history. • It was the largest grossing foreign film ever released in the United States.

4. Genre: Magical Realism • Like Water for Chocolate belongs to the genre of magical realism. • This is a style of storytelling, which infuses magical elements into mundane everyday situations, conditions, and practices. • The idea is to reveal essential and extraordinary aspects of human relations imbedded in everyday activities.

5. Brief Synopsis • Reportedly, Esquivel used an episode from her own family to write her book. She had a great-aunt named Tita, who was forbidden to wed. • Tita never did anything but care for her own mother. Soon after her mother died, so did Tita. • The book has been a tremendous international success: The No. 1 best-selling book in Mexico for three years; it's also been translated into 23 languages.

6. Set-up • Each chapter is a “monthly installment" and labeled with the months of the year; we learn of Tita's struggle to pursue true love and claim her independence. • Each installment features a recipe to begin each chapter. • Food is often a direct cause of physical and emotional unrest in the story, and serves as a medium through which emotions can be expressed.

7. Mexican Revolution of 1910 • For most of Mexico's developing history, a small minority of the people were in control of most of the country's power and wealth, while the majority of the population worked in poverty. • As the rift between the poor and rich grew under the leadership of General Díaz, the political voice of the lower classes was also declining. • Opposition of Díaz did surface, when Francisco I. Madero, educated in Europe and at the University of California, led a series of uprisings throughout the country.

8. Historical Context Cont… • Díaz was pressured into holding an election in 1910, in which Madero was able to gather a significant number of the votes. • Although Díaz was at one time a strong supporter of the one-term limit, he seemed to have changed his mind (surprise, surprise). He had Madero imprisoned, feeling that the people of Mexico just weren't ready for democracy.

9. Historical Context Cont… • Once Madero was released from prison, he continued his battle against Díaz in an attempt to have him overthrown. • During this time, several other Mexican heroes began to emerge, including the well known Pancho Villa in the north, and the peasant Emiliano Zapata in the south. • They were able to overcome the Mexican army and gain control of their respective regions.

10. Historical Context Cont… • Madero was eventually elected president, but received opposition from Emiliano Zapata. • Zapata felt Madero wasn’t acting quickly enough with his reforms and changes. • In November of the same year, Zapata denounced Madero as president and took the position for himself. • He chased out the estate owners and divided their lands up for the peasants. • Later, in 1919, Zapata was assassinated due to an order from General Pablo Gonzalez.

11. Historical Context Cont… • It was during this time that the country broke into many different factions, and guerilla units roamed across the country destroying and burning down many large haciendas and ranches. • Overall, this was a time of political unrest in Mexico, which left the everyday citizens in constant fear of looting and violence by soldiers/militia.

12. Author’s Purpose • Esquivel uses the revolution to explore themes of masculinity and gender identity. • She also explores the ideas of revolution and liberty, both literally with the war, and figuratively with Tita’s struggles within herself.

13. Main 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, they have an 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