Like Water

Like Water

There are many morality issues within Laura Esqurel’s book, Like Water for Chocolate. One of the main ones that stick out in my mind is the issue of the characters being unable to choose who they want to marry. Instead, marriage is somewhat predetermined. In many countries this is called arrange marriage. Wikipedia defines arrange marriage as
Many countries within the Middle East and namely India practice arranged marriages. Countries in and around Asia also carry out forms of arranged marriages. The issue at hand is whether or not these marriages are of good moral conscience. The practices of arranged marriages date back centuries and so the question remains whether or not these values and practices should be in use today since they are so old. In Like Water For Chocolate, the main character Tita is denied marriage because within the time frame and settings of the book, the culture practices state that,
If he intends to ask for your hand, tell him not to bother. He’ll be wasting his time and mine too. You know perfectly well that being the youngest daughter means you have to take care of me until the day I die. (Esquivel 10)
Within the culture the youngest daughter in the family must not wed and instead is relegated to taking care of the mother until her passing. Women in this culture also are not allowed to decide who they marry. Pedro who is the main character Tita’s love interest comes to ask for her hand but instead is offered Tita’s sister Rosaura.
But if you really want Pedro to get married, allow me to suggest my daughter Rosaura. (Esquivel 13)
These actions are similar to Muslim cultures within the Middle East as well as India. For example, India according again to Wikipedia still practices this.
Even today overwhelming majority of Indians in India have their marriages planned by their parents and other respected family-members, with the consent of the bride and groom (2)
Whether it is the settings and culture within the book, the Middle...

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