Food as a Metaphor for Unexpressed Emotions in Like Water...

Food as a Metaphor for Unexpressed Emotions in Like Water for Chocolate An oppressed soul finds means to escape through the preparation of food in the novel, Like Water for Chocolate (1992). Written by Laura Esquivel, the story is set in revolutionary Mexico at the turn of the century. Tita, the young heroine, is living on her family’s ranch with her two older sisters, her overbearing mother, and Nacha, the family cook and Tita’s surrogate mother. At a very young age, Tita is instilled with a deep love for food for Tita, the joy of living was wrapped up in the delights of food (7). The sudden death of Titas father, left Titas mothers unable to nurse the infant Tita due to shock and grief. Therefore Nacha, who [knows]†¦show more content†¦Pedro does become engaged to Rosaura, because, as he tells his father when they are leaving the ranch, When youre told theres no way you can marry the woman you love and your only hope of being near to her is to marry her sister, wouldnt you do the same? (15). It is during Pedro and Rosauras weddin g reception that Titas feelings first become apparent through the magic of her cooking. Mama Elena, sensing Titas reluctance to participate in her sisters upcoming wedding, warns her, I wont stand for disobedience... nor am I going to allow you to ruin your sisters wedding, with you acting like the victim. Youre in charge of all the preparations starting now, and dont ever let me catch you with a single tear or even a long face, do you hear? (27). At the wedding party the following day, although Tita keeps a perfectly calm demeanor, her true feelings about her sisters marriage to Pedro are revealed in the guests first bite of the Chabela wedding cake. The moment [the guests] took their first bite of the cake, everyone was flooded with a great wave of longing... [T]he weeping was just the first symptom of a strange intoxication that seized the guests (39), all but Tita, on whom the cake had no effect. The author uses the cakes effect on the guests to reveal first, Titas grief over her loss of love through the guests uncontrollable weeping and second, her disgust over her sister and PedrosShow MoreRelatedCoaching Salespeople Into Sales Champions110684 Words   |  443 Pagestaping, Greg, the sales manager, approached me with some follow-up questions that surfaced after his coaching experience. He was an enthusiastic, compassionate, and admirable manager who was truly committed to leading his team to greater success. Yet, like most managers, he was never formally trained to be a sales manager. After observing my successful coaching session with his two salespeople, his eyes were wide with excitement. The problems that his salespeople had been struggling with for months which