Political Power during the Mexican Revolution in 'Like Water for Chocolate'.

University Degree Historical and Philosophical studies

Hoff, Lauren 0677- _____

Political Power during the Mexican

Revolution in Like Water for Chocolate

Lauren Hoff

Candidate #: ______

October 16, 2004

Thornton High School 0677

Dr. Michael Kilduff

Words: 1,223

Throughout history, Mexico has had many revolutions. One of the most important revolutions would have to be the Revolution from 1910-1920. During this revolution, Mexico went through many dictators but eventually ended with a ruler who instilled rules and regulations that are still used today to run Mexico. Laura Esquivel’s novel Like Water for Chocolate is an allegorical reference to the Mexican revolution. Each character in Like Water for Chocolate represents a different leader or dictator during the Revolution. The course of the book follows the rise and fall of the many different leaders. The six major characters within the novel, which are also the six major members of the De la Garza family; Mama Elena, Gertrudis, Rosaura, Tita, Pedro and Esperanza, all represent the different leaders and dictators to come to power during this decade. Minor characters such as John and Alex Brown, have reference to the relationship between the United States and Mexico during the revolution. Many novels are written for a specific purpose, meaning, or audience, Like Water for Chocolate was written as an allegorical reference to the Mexican Revolution, using the characters as references to political power in the revolution.

The start of the Mexican Revolution began when Fransico I. Madero was angered with the rule of President (General) Porfino Diaz. Madero was planning on running for election in 1910, and was given great odds of winning over the present dictator Diaz. This upset Diaz, who had Madero arrested and put in jail prior to the election, thus guaranteeing that he would take the election. In Esquivel’s novel, Mama Elena plays the role of the ruling dictator. Her youngest daughter, Tita, wishes to marry Pedro Muzquiz, but Mama Elena will not allow it. Mama Elena tells Tita, “You know perfectly well that being the youngest daughter means you have to take care of me until the day I die” (Esquivel 10). The youngest daughter caring for the mother is tradition in the De la Garza family; therefore it is Tita’s duty to follow through with this. Tita plays the role of Madero. Although Tita was not thrown in a physical jail as Fransico Madero had been, not being allowed to marry Pedro, and having Pedro marry her older sister Rosaura, had put her in an emotional jail, not allowing her to express her love for him.

After the elections, after Diaz had won, Madero denounces Diaz as President, claiming the elections dishonest and the he should be the President until the next election. He also writes a document on November 20, 1910, sparking the Mexican Revolution. Tita has been very upset about not being with her love, but has found a new love, taking care of Pedro and Rosaura’s son, Roberto. When Roberto dies, it sends Tita over the edge. She screams to her mother “I’m sick of obeying you!” (Esquivel 99). This is Tita’s document to spark the revolution. From this Mama Elena sends her ...

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After this out burst, Tita is picked up by John Brown, and instead of taking her to an asylum, he takes her in and cares for her. John Brown helps clean her up after her out burst, she beings to have an obsession with his hands because, “Those hands had rescued her from horror and she would never forget it” (Esquivel 108). During the Mexican Revolution, more than 900,000 Mexicans fled to the United States in order to discover a better life. The United States “went down into Mexico and saw what all the violence had done. They felt that they could not refuse Mexican immigrants wanting to have a better lifestyle” (Davies). John Brown is an allegorical reference to the United States, taking in Tita and caring for her, just as the United States had done for Mexican immigrants. Also, when Madero denounced Diaz as President, and wrote his revolutionary document, he was in the United States, taking refuge from Diaz’s power.

Soon after the elections, in 1911, Pascual Orozco and Fransico “Pancho” Villa took over Mexico City. This scared Diaz and caused him to resign and flee to Europe, thus leaving behind a large army in control of General Victoriano Huerta and the Presidency for Madero. His presidency was very short because his allies, Zapata, Villa and Orozco all abandoned him, opening the door for Huerta and Felix Diaz (General Diaz’s nephew) to overthrow Madero. In Like Water for Chocolate, Tita returns to the De La Garza household, only to have control over Mama Elena. Mama Elena believes that Tita is trying to poison her with her food, “Because it tastes nasty and bitter…”(Esquivel 130). Mama Elena refuses to eat, and in her weak and sickened state, starves herself to death. Tita believes this to be the end of the family tradition which has caused this revolution. She is now free to marry and does not plan on carrying out the tradition.

Just as Madero’s Presidency had been short lived, so was Tita’s control. Gertrudis, who had run off “inflamed with burning love” (Esquivel 60), abandoned her sister just as Pancho Villa had done to Madero. Gertrudis’s absence left room for Rosaura step up, carrying on the tradition of the family with her daughter, Esperanza. John Brown’s son, Alex, discusses as a child how he wishes to marry Esperanza, “Rosaura explained to Alex that he couldn’t because this little girl was destined to take care of her until the day she died” (Esquivel 150). Rosaura can be seen as Huerta and Felix Diaz overthrowing Madero, or Tita for control over the family. In 1913 and 1914 Huerta did not have much success as President of Mexico suffering one defeat after another, eventually being overthrown in 1914. Rosaura began having “serious digestive problems, she suffered from flatulence and bad breathe” (Esquivel 169). These problems eventually lead to Rosaura’s death, just as Huerta’s problems lead to the end of his reign. When Huerta was overthrown, Venustantio Carranza became president. Carranza was the last leader to come to power during the Mexican Revolution, and he continued to rule until the current President of Mexico was elected. After Rosaura’s death, Esperanza married Alex. Esperanza was the final woman in the De La Garza family, and she did not carry on the family tradition. Alex and Esperanza’s marriage marks the end of the revolution. In the De la Garza family there are no longer battles over marriage or love. In Mexico, there are no longer battles between the revolutionists and Diaz’s supporters over control. Alex, as well as John Brown, represents the United States. From the revolution, many Mexicans began migrating to Mexico, thus creating a bond between the United States and Mexico.

All of the characters in Like Water for Chocolate represent a leader or dictator during the Mexican Revolution. Many men came to power during this war, causing many problems for Mexico. In the De La Garza family, the power of the fate of the family was passed around, causing many problems for members of the family. Laura Esquivel’s novel describes the power struggle in Mexico during the revolution using allegorical references from the power struggle within the De La Garza family.

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