"Like water for chocolate" can be broken down into the lives of two women, Tita De La Garza and her mother, Mama Elena. The type of interaction that Tita has with Mama Elena is the focus point in which the story is developed around. Though the story concentrates on Tita, and Mama Elena, Tita's life experiences is the focus point which provides the deeper meaning in the story. Mama Elena on the other hand is seen as one of the main characters because she is the reason Tita goes on to live the life she lives, and endures the struggles she encounter. Mama Elena's role in the story will not be touched on as much as Tita's because of this reason. Tita the central character strives for freedom, individuality and love, and Mama Elena, the head antagonist, stands as an obstacle between Tita and her goals. This mother-daughter relationship is filled with problems from its beginning, when Tita is born prematurely following her father's sudden death. Mama Elena is a dictator to Tita never forming any type of bond with her. Growing up in the kitchen Tita forms a relationship with food that gives her the power to nurture and give outlet to her emotions. Tita's expression of emotion through food, and duties she has to uphold do to cultural beliefs are metaphoric expressions of how women are associated with domestic activities.
In this literary pairing, Tita and Mama Elana share similar characteristics that identify both of their individual battles and there clashes with each other. The exposure that .
Hicks p.2.
Mama Elena herself suffered concerning heart ache caused by losing a love is an important complement to Tita deprivation. The ways in which Tita, and Mama Elena .
handle the similar predicaments help separate the identity of the two characters. Whereas Mama Elena lets her loss of love turn her into the bitter dictator she has become. Tita, while obeying her mother's commands externally, takes part in a life long struggle for love, which she would eventually win through her ability to persevere.