Abdiel Montes

AP English IV
2nd period

Dialectical Journal: Like Water For Chocolate

Chapter 1: Family as a Source of Suffering
Quote
Analysis
Characterization
The narrator
(Mama Elena): You
characterizes Mama
dont have an opinion, Elena as a controlling
and thats all I want to and ultimately selfish
hear about it. For
person. The tradition
generations, not a
mentioned in the quote
single person in my
refers to Tita being
family has ever
forced to take care of
questioned this
mother because she is
tradition, and no
the youngest daughter.
daughter of mine is
going to be the one to
start. (Page 3; second
column; 7th paragraph)
Detail: Nacha, with
To say that Tita is
all of her experience,
upset about losing
knew that for Tita
Pedro would be an
there was no pain that understatement.
wouldnt disappear if
Because she gave him
she ate a delicious
up she was plunged
Christmas Roll. But
into a depression that
this time it didnt
she could not get out
work.
of.

Effect on Theme
Mama Elenas strict
and controlling
personality robs Tita
of any hope that she
had of being happy
with the man that she
loves.

The detail that Tita

was extremely
saddened for giving
up Pedro conveys her
sense of loyalty to her
family. The author
wants the readers to
see that Tita gave up
her happiness in
exchange for her
sisters because she
understands that it is
wrong to pursue her
sisters future
husband.

Chapter 2: The Effects of Mental and Physical Abuse

Quote
Analysis
Effect on Theme
Imagery (Hearing):
Tita was forced to help
The image of the
The sound was quite prepare the food that
peeping birds when in
clear, she could hear
would be served at
reality there was no
a baby chick peeping
Rosauras wedding. Tita chick in the egg
inside the shell. She
hearing the peeping
reflects the state of
held the egg closer to bird goes to show that
torture that Tita was

her ear and the

peeping got louder.
(Page 10; first column;
4th paragraph)
Detail: Never had
she entered the
church, not once,
without dreaming of
the day she would
enter it in the arms of
a man. She had to
block out not just this
thought but all the
memories that caused
her so much pain: she
had the finish the
frosting for her
sisters cake. (Page
13; first column;
paragraph 2)

the fatigue she was

feeling for cooking for
three days straight was
causing her to
hallucinate.
The only way for Tita to
get through the day is
for her to completely
block out her emotions.
Mama Elena does not
allow Tita to show any
type of vulnerability.

Chapter 3: Cooking as a Remedy

Quote
Analysis
Detail: Naming her
Tita experiences
official ranch cook
tragedy after tragedy.
was a popular
The fact that she was
decision with
made ranch cook
everyone. Tita was
brought her some of
pleased to receive the the happiness that she
post, in spite of the
was no longer feeling.
sorrow she felt at
At this point, it is
losing Nacha. Her
probably the only thing
unfortunate death had that keeps her sane
left Tita in a very deep and brings her stability.
depression. (Page 17;
2nd column; 6th
paragraph)

Imagery (Sight): It
was as if a strange
alchemical process
had dissolved her

The reaction that

Gertrudis had to the
very well prepared
meal served as

in. Hallucinations were

the result of Tita being
overworked by Mama
Elena.
The detail that Tita
has a lot of hopes and
dreams with Pedro
demonstrates that
Tita is still grieving the
plans she and Pedro
had made. Her only
solution to cope with
those feelings is to not
feel them. The author
wants to show the
reader that she, and
the pressure of her
mother, has
conditioned herself to
block out her
emotions.
Effect on Theme
The detail that Tita
was in a state
depression despite
being ranch cook
strengthens the bond
that the reader
created between Tita
and Nacha because it
demonstrates that not
even cooking can
relive the pain of
losing her. Even
though Nacha is no
longer with Tita, every
time she cooks Tita
will be reminded of
her.
The image of
Gertrudis entering
Pedros body depicts
the desires that Pedro

entire being in the

rose petal sauce, in
the tender flesh of the
quails, in the wine, in
every one of the
meals aromas. That
was the way she
entered Pedros body,
hot, voluptuous,
perfumed, totally
sensuous. (Page 21;
1stc column; 2nd
paragraph)

epitome that expressed and Tita have for one

Titas true desires.
another because it
becomes a form of
communication for
them without having
to speak. This is
important because
although it is a
forbidden love,
through Titas meals
she and Pedro can
pass sexual
messages.

Chapter 4: Sexual Temptation

Quote
Analysis
Imagery (Sight and
Tita and Pedros love
Smell): Pedro,
is never ending but
hearing her from the
they are not allowed
living room,
to act on their
experienced a
feelings. Therefore,
sensation that was
Titas cooking is the
new to him. The
only way that they
sound of the pans
can feel each other.
bumping against each
other, the smell of the
almonds browning in
the griddle, the sound
of Titas melodious
voice, singing as she
cooked, had kindled
his sexual feelings.
(Page 27; 2nd column;
4th paragraph)
Allusion (the Bible):
The detailed
At once their
description of the
passionate glances
sexual tension
fused so perfectly that between Tita and
whoever saw them
Pedro can be
would have been seen interpreted as
a single look, a single tempting. They love
rhythmic and sensual
each other so much
motion, a single
that it is hard for them
trembling breath, a
to not lust over each

Effect on Theme
The detailed
description of Pedros
senses in reaction to
Titas cooking serves
as a symbol to the
sexual tension that he
feels towards her.
Ultimately, this could
lead to betrayal due
to the fact that
neither Tita nor Pedro
can hold their feelings
back.

The author alludes to

the Bible the
temptation that Tita
and Pedro emit to
each other in a way
that relates it to the
way that the serpent
tempted Eve in Eden.

single desire. (Page

27; 1st column; 7th
paragraph)

other.