The Magical Journey in Like Water For Chocolate

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Tariq Ameer #116

11-IB Lit P-A

March 15th 2012

The Magic Journey of Like Water For Chocolate

Magic realism is an artistic, literary genre in which magical elements are combined with the real world. The story begins and ends with magical scenes, which not only make the story more interesting but also causes the reader to be drawn between the two views of reality. In her novel, Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel uses magic realism in order to develop the plot in unique ways.

The story starts with the birth of the protagonist Tita. Tita was very sensitive to onions that even when she was in her mother's belly she cried. Her crying has led Mama Elena to have a premature labor, and Tita came into this world in a flood of tears (5,6). Although Esquivel uses figurative language, most of the things stated in the book should be taken literally. For example, during Tita's birth there was a flood of tears; and after the water was dried up, the salt that remained was used for cooking for an exceptionally long time. From the first few pages the author intrigues the reader.