Laura Esquivel's novel Like Water For Chocolate, explores issues and asks questions about our society, in a way that is a thought provoking and relevant. It is presented in such a way that the novel flows with pace and does not impend on the book. Subtle hints come together to question the reader of their morals and beliefs. Child abuse is an issue that has been discussed and debated in New Zealand recently. Another topic that has importance in the novel is a womans rights. This has had world-wide publicity recently with regard to the Middle East's treatment of the woman population. Esquivel has tied all these concerns into a novel that questions and challenges the reader.
An issue in New Zealand that has been gaining a lot of press in recent years has been the astronomical rise in child abuse by family members. This issue has been gaining a lot of front page press and is provokes many emotions. This text deals with this issue in Mama Elena's shocking mistreatment of her youngest daughter Tita. Because of Mama Elena's selfishness, she had decreed that in the keeping with tradition, Tita was forbidden to marry, find true love and leave the home. Instead she was confined to the destiny of looking after her mother until the day she died. This was an extreme act self-centeredness of the part of Mama Elena. She was denying Tita the love and the fulfilment that a successful marriage can bring. This upset Tita greatly as she didn't understand how Mama Elena had reached this decision as it seemed so unfair to the youngest child that they were unable to experience life to the fullest. She also dealt Tita casual abuse in the form of sporadic beatings and slaps. This resulted in intense emotional pressure on Tita and in the end she snapped with the news of the death of Roberto. She had formed a mother/son relationship with him when she was suddenly able to breastfeed Roberto in the absence of his maternal mothers milk.