Date: Mon, 10 Jul 95 08:56:50 est
Subject: Re[2]: Like water for Chocolate ...


     I've only seen the movie, but my point of ambivalence stemmed from the 
     characterization of the red-haired sister. She is the most wild, the 
     most sexual (her desire literally turns into fire and she rides off 
     naked with a stranger) and the best dancer. I don't think it's mere 
     coincidence that we find out that she is the daughter of a man of 
     African descent. Many of her personality traits are time-worn 
     primitivist stereotypes. 
     
     jc


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Like water for Chocolate ...
Author:  postcolonial-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu at INTERNET
Date:    7/9/95 4:20 PM


Although I have not seen the movie, I recently read the novel for a book club 
and those in the club who had seen the film said it was almost exactly like 
the novel.  My response to the novel was ambivalence.  I was hoping someone 
at the bookclub would bring up this issue of women characters who on the one 
hand seem powerful and vibrant, but on the other hand come uncomfortably 
close (for me) to stereotypes presented in a very unironic, straightforward 
manner.  The all-powerful mother figure who hypocritically denies sexuality 
can only be escaped through sex with a man.  Yet on the other hand there are 
those positive "mother figures" such as John's grandmother, the woman who 
grew herbs.  It seemed as though Tita was acted upon a lot, instead of 
acting.  It also seemed as though a community of women was often problematic, 
to say the least.  But I am, as I said, ambivalent, having liked other parts 
of the book.  Thanks for bringing it up.  Hope others are interested.
     
     
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