Political Allegory and Character archetypes in

Like Water for Chocolate

Jair Bonilla-Sifuentes












ELA
Mr.Cook
19 September 2014

Allegories are used to create a message to the reader. It is like a hidden message. A
political allegory is used to convey a message about the government. Like Water for Chocolate
is political allegory that uses characters to represent rebellion, selfish conformity, and
oppression.

Tita demonstrates rebellion in Like Water for Chocolate. Mama Elena was commanding
Tita and Tita responded with, Heres what I do with your orders! Im sick of them! Im sick of
obeying you! Mama Elena went to her, picked up a wooden spoon, and smashed her across the
face with it (99). Tita directly disobeyed Mama Elenas orders. She stood up to the power of
her mother. Rebellion was an reference to the Mexican Revolution. Even though Mama Elena
has greater power over Tita she took a chance. Mama Elena has forbidden Tita to marry a man,
but when Tita comes to help her mom a Dr.brown tells Mama Elena, Some day Im going to
come and ask you for her hand (132). This shocks Mama Elena to know that her daughter has
intentions of getting married. Tita again becomes a rebel since her mother is not aware of this
forbidden choice.

Like Water for Chocolate uses Chencha as the oppressed. Chencha has recently has
found out that Roberto, Titas nephew, has just died. Chencha is weeping inconsolably. *Mama
Elena+Dont cry child. It annoys me to see you cry (99). Chencha is quickly silenced with Mama
Elenas orders and she does what is told. She has no opinion in Mama Elenas household. Tita
later on panics and goes into the dovecote in the roof. The next morning she *Mama Elena+
orders Chencha to get Tita down from the dovecote (100). Chencha is bossed around by Mama
Elena and has no consideration over Chenchas well being. Chencha is being oppressed because
she follows Mama Elenas commands even if she does not want to.

Like Water for Chocolate uses Rosaura as the ideological conformist. Rosaura believes
that anything that Mama Elena states is true and is right. Rosaura says, They all laughed at
that, but when Rosaura explained to Alex that he couldnt because this little girl was destined to
take care of her until the day she died, Tita felt her hair stand on end (108). Rosaura tells
everyone that Tita cannot marry because this rule came from Mama Elena. She agrees with th
tradition. She agrees to the fact that Tita will not marry and will take care of Mama Elena until
her last breath. Tita is upset when she mentions, At least then there would be some
justification for not allowing her to marry and giving Rosaura her place beside the man she
loved (27). Rosaura is marries the man Tita was in love with because Tita could not marry.
Rosaura only cares about her well being and does what she wants even if it means hurting her
own sister.

Esquivels use of political allegory adds to the narrative because it adds a deeper
meaning to the story. The rhetorical device of allegory is used to convey the message of the
Mexican Revolution. She uses the characters as symbols to represent ideas from dictatorship to
oppression. This is very clear in Like Water for Chocolate because Mama Elena is a clear
example of dictatorship and Tita is clearly the rebel. This creates a direct correlation to the
Mexican Revolution. The story is divided by love and war. Overall, moral lesson in Esquivels
novel is that sometimes you need to rebel to the power and you will get what you desire.