Feminsim in Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel Essay

How does the author of Like Water for Chocolate depict her feminist views and how do they contribute to two different themes of the novel? In the novel Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel exposes her strong feminist attitude through a controlling first person limited narration and a detailed, descriptive portrayal of the characters. This exploitation of feminist views supports two major themes: change in traditional attitudes towards authority and freedom of expression. In this novel, Laura Esquivel shows how Mexican women can overcome the powerful traditional authority of men and the traditional mindset of women; and how women can overcome societys suppression and express themselves freely. . These two themes have a direct†¦show more content†¦The narrator can manipulate certain vies on certain characters. For example, throughout the novel the reader obtains Titas bashful point of view on Rosaura and Mama Elenas arrogance and ignorance. If the narration would be some thing like third person omniscient, it would be up to the reader to decide whether or not you think Tita is saying the truth, or if shes just being a selfish, immature teenager that can handle growing up. Esquivel uses the first person narrator to implore her feminist message and point of vie across to the reader Change in attitude towards authority and freedom of expression can be seen through the way the narrator creates sympathy for Tita and creates a masculine, authoritative character for Mama Elena. Tita represents the woman who can think as an individual moving on and changing dominant authoritative views on her and that can express herself freely. Mama Elena has the mannish attitude and character because she represents the woman that has already gone through years of suppression and plans to suppress her daughter just like they did to her. Tita being the last child is obliged to take care of her mother until she passes away, this silly tradition does not let her marry or have a family of her own. Mama Elena also can also represent men, who have suppressed women forever in Mexico; but Laura Esquivels main intention is to show womans suppression of women. A change in attitude toward authority