Like Water for Chocolate: A Culinary Love Story

Conclusions

• Maria Elena: Died from a robbery attack.
• Rosa: Died of indigestion.
• Gertrudis: Married and became a revolutionary soldier captain.
• Chencha: Married and had a son.
• Alex and Esperanza: Their marriage was Tita’s triumph over tradition.
• Tita and Pedro: Their love prevailed, consummated after 22 years of hidden passion.

Narrator

The language is consistent with the time period (1970-1980), using formal language except for Chencha, reflecting her upbringing.

Characters

• Tita: The protagonist, expressing her hidden feelings through cooking. She finds love with Pedro and carries on a secret affair.
• Nacha: The family cook and Tita’s maternal figure, teaching her many recipes and guiding her even after death.
• Pedro: Tita’s secret love, who marries Rosa to stay close to Tita. He has two children with Rosa: Rodrigo and Esperanza (only Esperanza survives).
• Rosaura: Tita’s sister, who marries Pedro but does not receive his love. She represents an obstacle to Tita and Pedro’s union. She has two children, only Esperanza survives, continuing the family cooking tradition.
• Gertrudis: Tita and Rosaura’s sister, Mama Elena’s daughter from a passionate love affair. She inspires Tita’s rebellion.
• Mama Elena: Tita, Rosaura, and Gertrudis’s mother. She upholds the tradition preventing Tita from marrying Pedro.
• John: The family doctor. Tita develops feelings for him and he takes her in after she experiences a breakdown.
• Alex’s Father (John’s Dad): A revolutionary who had an affair with Gertrudis. They reunite, marry, and have a son.
• Chencha: A lifelong servant of the Garza family. She marries despite being assaulted and develops a close friendship with Tita.
• Esperanza: Rosa and Pedro’s daughter, raised by Tita. She experiences a similar situation to Tita and Nacha, eventually marrying Alex and having a daughter who narrates the story.

Timeline of Events

June

Tita moves in with Dr. Brown after a conflict with Mama Elena.

July

Chencha makes Tita ox-tail soup, a dish from Tita’s childhood. Tita returns to the ranch after bandits attack and Chencha is assaulted. Mama Elena is partially paralyzed. Tita makes ox-tail soup for her mother, but Mama Elena rejects it. Mama Elena dies later that month.

August

Esperanza, Rosa and Pedro’s daughter, is born. Tita helps care for Esperanza. Rosaura struggles to feed Esperanza. Tita is reluctant to become attached to the baby due to the pain of losing Roberto. Rosaura recovers quickly, fearing Tita will take her daughter. John proposes to Tita after his mother’s death, and Pedro, as the man of the house, accepts.

October

Tita is deeply in love with Pedro. Mama Elena experiences chest pains and a swollen belly, eventually finding relief through menstruation.

November

Tita breaks off her engagement with John, realizing her true feelings for Pedro.

December

Tita and Chencha prepare for Esperanza and Alex’s wedding. Pedro is tormented by jealousy. The wedding is Tita’s greatest triumph. Pedro serenades Tita, causing a scandal and getting burned. Gertrudis helps him.