Political Allegory and Character Archetypes in Like Water for Chocolate

Irma Valenzuela
















ELA
Mr.Cook
19 September 2014





Allegory is used to show a moral lesson. A political allegory is a metaphor that ties
back to society. Laura Esquivel, author of Like Water for Chocolate, makes the story more
compelling by using a revolutionary allegory. Like Water for Chocolate is a political
allegory that uses characters to represent rebellion, ideological conformity, and
oppression.

Esquivel uses the character Tita to represent rebellion. Mama Elena was controlling
Tita, being the youngest, has to watch over her mom until the day she dies. Dr.Brown wants
to get married with Tita and tells Mama Elena, Some day Im going to come and ask you for
her hand in marriage (132). Tita disobeyed her mom by marrying John Brown after she
told her that she could not marry him. Mama Elena was ordering Tita and she responed,
Heres what I do with your orders! Im sick of them! Im sick of obeying you (99)! Tita is
showing rebellion through disobeying her mom and her orders.

Esquivel uses the character Rosaura to represent ideological conformity. 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 is showing ideological conformity by following and obeying the
tradition her mom left behind. Tita is sad that her sister is marrying her love. Tita says, 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 going to marry Titas love and
she does not care. Rosaura is not arguing against her mothers beliefs, she is actually
agreeing with them and putting Tita down.

Esquivel uses the character Chencha to represent the oppressed. Titas nephew just died
and Chencha could not stop crying. Chencha is weeping inconsolably. [Mama Elena]Dont
cry child. It annoys me to see you cry (99). Chencha shows oppression because she has to
put her feelings aside to follow Mama Elenas orders. Tita became really depressed and
went to the dovecote where she had a mental breakdown, so Mama Elena said, The next
morning she [Mama Elena] orders Chencha to get Tita down from the dovecote (100).
Chencha is showing oppression because she follows every commMama Elena give her with
no argument.

and Mama Elena gives her whether or not she wants to.

Esquivels use of political allegory adds to the narrative because it allows people to
connect the book to The Mexican Revolution and their injustice. The rhetorical device of
allegory is used to show rebellion over power. The effect is clear in Like Water for
Chocolate because the author uses Tita to represent rebellion and Mama Elena to represent
the dictator. Overall, the moral lesson in esquivels novel is rebellion over dictatorship.