Like Water For Chocolate Mama Elena Character Analysis
Marianismo remains an extremely enveloping phenomenon in Latin America; this philosophy exalts the virtues of la Virgen María and simultaneously expects all women to adhere to that definition of “true” femininity. Marianismo has often been called the sister of Machismo, and both are undoubtedly engrained into the Hispanic identity. Despite her role as the matriarch of Laura Esquivel's novel Like Water for Chocolate, Mama Elena's extensive function throughout the novel as the primary source of conflict subverts the societal norms of her respective gender. The role of protector that Mama Elena assumes in respect to her daughters' bodies, the near universal obedience to her wishes, and her emotional unavailability better align her with Machismo;
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Her ascription to Machismo brings the male perspective to a story fueled by the female experience. Rather like the assumptive attitude she embodies, Mama Elena is considered an unreasonable, ever-present (even after her death, her name evokes fear and discipline), and oppressive force. It is difficult to surmise why Esquivel made such a bold choice when designing this character. Perhaps, she was making a feminist criticism and condemning the dominance of assumptive attitudes in Mexico? Maybe the author was promoting Marianismo by presenting the reader with a female character whose chauvinistic nature brought on her downfall? Or, Esquivel could have been championing a "modern" code of conduct for women (embodied by Gertrudis, and to an extent Tita) that dismissed Marianismo (Rosaura) and Machismo (Mama Elena)? Without the author's input, the reader can only generate speculative justifications for Mama Elena's subversion of female gender roles.
Mama Elena is an indispensable character in Like Water for Chocolate; without her the catalytic conflict would not exist, as no one would object to Pedro's proposal to Tita. By embodying Machismo Mama Elena serves as a foil for figures like Nacha and Tita, compensates for Juan De la Garza's absence, and reinforces greater societal pressures within the domestic context. Like Machismo, Mama Elena affects everyone in her presence--Mama Elena's influence over Tita is captured in the novel's own
Her ascription to Machismo brings the male perspective to a story fueled by the female experience. Rather like the assumptive attitude she embodies, Mama Elena is considered an unreasonable, ever-present (even after her death, her name evokes fear and discipline), and oppressive force. It is difficult to surmise why Esquivel made such a bold choice when designing this character. Perhaps, she was making a feminist criticism and condemning the dominance of assumptive attitudes in Mexico? Maybe the author was promoting Marianismo by presenting the reader with a female character whose chauvinistic nature brought on her downfall? Or, Esquivel could have been championing a "modern" code of conduct for women (embodied by Gertrudis, and to an extent Tita) that dismissed Marianismo (Rosaura) and Machismo (Mama Elena)? Without the author's input, the reader can only generate speculative justifications for Mama Elena's subversion of female gender roles.
Mama Elena is an indispensable character in Like Water for Chocolate; without her the catalytic conflict would not exist, as no one would object to Pedro's proposal to Tita. By embodying Machismo Mama Elena serves as a foil for figures like Nacha and Tita, compensates for Juan De la Garza's absence, and reinforces greater societal pressures within the domestic context. Like Machismo, Mama Elena affects everyone in her presence--Mama Elena's influence over Tita is captured in the novel's own