ipl-logo

Like Water For Chocolate Magical Realism Analysis

996 Words4 Pages

What is magical realism? Magical realism by definition is: A literary genre or style, especially associated with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into an otherwise realistic fiction, this is according to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11 Edition). What this means is that the majority of the novel is real, but there are obviously fictional parts that we must accept as real. How is magical realism used in the book Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel? This essay, we will discuss three different incidences of magical realism in the book written by Ms. Esquivel. One of the incidents that will be discussed is how the author turns “tears into salt.” Another incident discussed is when Tita makes a cake and all the guests eat it and how the cake made everyone “long for love.” The third incident under discussion demonstrates how the author creatively uses a “box of matches” to signify a person internal soul and how it functions. Moreover, in this essay we will review specific details on how these examples are used in the plot Like Water for Chocolate. Stay tuned as this is an interesting genre to explore.
The initial incident in the …show more content…

The book delivers some highly imaginative descriptions. It also provides some descriptions of real events based in historical fact that make this novel believable and intriguing. Magical realism adds significant “umph” to each plot line by carefully portraying fictional stories in a realistic setting with overlays of fantastical events. By Laura Esquivel using magical realism in Like Water for Chocolate, she brings a creative glance into some long lost traditional beliefs from the Mexican culture and mythology. She is able to capture some exciting stories and portray them in such a manner that you do not want to put the book

Show More
Related

  • Gullah Culture

    2269 Words  | 10 Pages

    Shange incorporates magical realism including ancestral heritage, customs and historical content. Analyzing the

    Read More

  • Like Water For Chocolate Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    875 Words  | 4 Pages

    Laura Esquivel in the book “Like Water For Chocolate” uses many strategies throughout the book like imagery ,and exaggeration. Both imagery and exaggeration helped develop the tone and the mood ,and set the purpose the passages that were given to us by Esquivel. Esquivel is trying to convey to the readers that you don’t need to be just plain like other writers to have a good story to tell, as she demonstrates in her way of writing and strategies. The use of words that Esquivel uses gives us a better understanding of the strategies being used by the author, and what she is trying to say by using those words. There are many other strategies that Esquivel uses, but exaggeration and imagery have a huge role in the book, and not only in the passage where she describes Nacha, but in others where the food is involved.

    Read More

  • What Are The Similarities Between The Bean Trees And My Sister's Keeper

    789 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver and My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult are both books that show a moral dilemma. Anna forces a moral dilemma when she chooses to sue for the rights to her body. Taylor is constantly facing dilemmas in her life, such as whether or not the keep Turtle or to help Estevan and Esperanza. These books have many similarities as well as differences in aspects including theme, characters, plot, and genre. The theme in The Bean Trees is that family does not have to be blood related.

    Read More

  • Magical Realism In Elsewhere Zevin

    1418 Words  | 6 Pages

    Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin, is a Magical Realism story of a young girl named Liz who must live on after she died so young. Magical Realism is characterized by six distinguishing traits. Magical Realism stories are characterized by an equal acceptance of ordinary and extraordinary, lyrical fantastic writing, an examination of the character of human existence, an implicit criticism of society, particularly the elite, and an acceptance of events contrary to the usual operating laws of the universe as natural, even remarkable which can be seen in authorial reticence and cultural hybridity. Each of these traits are what make a story a Magical Realism and what make Elsewhere a Magical Realism. One of the key elements of characterizing a book as a Magical Realism is its equal

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Fall Of The House Of Usher And House Taken Over

    459 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julio Cortazar’s “ House Taken Over,” is a good example of Magical Realism because Iirene and her brother hear strange noises and get scared by them so they leave parts of the house and never go back till they leave the house completely. “We didn’t wait to look around I took Iirene’s arm and forced her to run with me,”. This example shows how Irene and her brother heard strange noises and thought of the worst and ran from something unnatural. Therefor, “The House Taken Over” is an example of Magical Realism because it has an unnatural force that is on earth and the unnatural force is with normal characters such as Irene and her brother.

    Read More

  • Magical Realism In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon

    1910 Words  | 8 Pages

    In Toni Morrison's novel, she uses magical realism as a way to show how characters perceive certain situations.

    Read More

  • Magical Realism In Julio Cortazar's 'House Taken Over'

    120 Words  | 1 Pages

    Magical Realism is a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and an acceptance of magic in the real world. Julio Cortazar’s “House Taken Over” is a good example of magical realism, because the house is taken over by something that is unusual and supernatural. “The first few days were painful, since we’d both left so many things in the part that had been taken over” (pg.40). I chose this sentence to show that the thing that took over was really powerful like magic but was being used as dark magic in this story. Therefore, “House Taken Over” is an example because the story used spirits that were powerful and was scaring the people that lived in the house.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Like Water For Chocolate

    1151 Words  | 5 Pages

    Like Water for Chocolate is a radical novel which illustrates how male and female characteristics are interchangeable in a time period and culture where gender roles are all encompassing. The female characters depict characteristics typical of men such as authority, masculinity, and sensuality. While the male characters portray more feminine roles, therefore accentuating the way gender is presented. Through the reversal of gender roles traditionally represented as masculine and feminine, the author is able to show how gender roles are exchangeable and should not be based off of physical sexual orientation to directly define the personality of the individual. Mama Elena is forced to take on both the mother and father figure of the house.

    Read More

  • Figurative Language In 'Treasure Of Lemon Brown And Two Kinds'

    534 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author Amy Tan used different types of figurative language to develop character. In “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers and in “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan figurative language plays a huge role in character and scene development. The previous text isn’t even half of the figurative language elements used in the two short stories. The use of this narrative element was executed masterfully .

    Read More

  • Realism In Pudd Nhead Wilson

    395 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pudd'nhead Wilson features a lot of realism in that the book does seem like it corresponds with the time period and different cultures. This novel illustrates realism in that it shows the differences in language between cultures, it shows the societal views of the time, and it shows the education of the time. First, realism is illustrated in the differences in language and slang between the characters in the novel. Roxy at one point says, "No, dolling mammy ain't gwine to treat you so. De angels is gwine to 'mire you jist as much as dey does yo' mammy.

    Read More

  • Ap English Literature Realism Essay

    1045 Words  | 5 Pages

    All forms of literature betrays life or nature in a particular matter or form. Realism is one form of literature that presents life objectively and honestly without sentimentality or idealism that had colored earlier literature. In realism as well as many others, the setting is developed in great detail. Realism was first developed in France in the mid-19th century and then spread into the new world.

    Read More

  • La Noche Boca Arriba Analysis

    1707 Words  | 7 Pages

    The South American termed the new literary style as “lo real maravilloso.” Even up to now, there is still no agreement on a clear definition of what exactly defines a story as magical realism. However, there is common agreement on the distinction between it and purely fictional styles such as fairy tales and fables. Unlike them, magical realism has mythical or dreamlike elements injected in realistic stories. Just

    Read More

  • The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World Analysis

    1130 Words  | 5 Pages

    With the purpose of understanding why writers write, this essay offers an analysis of the short stories of Shirley Jackson and Gabriel Marquez: “The Lottery” and “The handsomest drowned man in the world” respectively. Both writers perpetuate a contemporary literary genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy. Jackson and Garcia Marquez use symbolism in “the Lottery and “The handsomest drowned man in the world” to explore and communicate their perspective on magical realism through the main themes of the stories, the response to change and the importance of rituals. Jackson uses the black box and the stones to symbolise disapproval of change and the acceptance of traditions

    Read More

  • Elements Of Magical Realism In Like Water For Chocolate By Laura Esquivel

    654 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like Water for Chocolate The theme of magical realism is manifested in the Laura Esquivel’s novel Like Water for Chocolate. Elements of magical realism are reflected mainly through Tita’s food recipes, as the food takes on supernatural qualities. The effects that they have on the characters in Esquivel’s book may seem far-fetched and yet it fits in with the nature of her book where impossible lactations, ghosts, the salt producing tears and so much more. These elements are cathartic releases for the characters. There are many instances in Like Water for Chocolate where Laura Esquivel uses magic realism.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love In The Time Of Choleres

    1480 Words  | 6 Pages

    This is because the book provides an exaggerated representation of real life. The effect of magic realism has an interesting effect on the readers, as it exaggerates the reality. Using magic realism makes the novel timeless, an exaggerated version of the past, that is still applicable to the future. These two techniques are evidently seen in the different relationships in the story.

    Read More

More about Like Water For Chocolate Magical Realism Analysis

Open Document