Characterization

In Like Water For Chocolate, Tita is characterized as being pitiful, and worthless. She also does whatever she is told, no matter how ridiculously challenging the chore may be. One reason for Tita’s lack of self respect is Mama Elena’s domineering attitude. She is told from a young age that she can not marry nor have children, because it is her responsibility to care for her mother till she passes away. I believe the restrictions thrust upon Tita cause her to not value her own life. Factors that also affect Tita’s character are the tragic events she experiences. For example, when Mama Elena forces Pedro to marry Rosaura due to her worry that Tita would run away with Pedro and leave her without help in her later years. An additional event that affected Tita’s character was when Roberto dies from malnutrition, because Rosaura’s breast milk dries up. Again, Mama Elena drives Pedro out of her life, and consequently deprives Roberto of Tita’s breast milk which miraculously materializes within her breasts. Mama Elena is portrayed as a cruel woman throughout the novel. She acts as a constant stopper to her family’s happiness. It isn’t until late in the novel, on pages 125-126, that you find out the reason for Mama Elena’s unshakable negativity. She was forced to give up the love of her life and be with a man she didn’t truly love. A way she consoled her regretful feelings was to punish her innocent daughter and make sure she felt the same pain she had felt so many years ago. This can only reflect the cruelty within Mama Elena’s character, because of the fact that she takes no pity on anyone and cannot feel even just a bit of empathy for them.