Ever imagine food will cause you heartache, memory loss and pain? In the books Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel, The Odyssey by Homer and The Book of J all of the main characters experience pain, whether it is physically or mentally. Through food some miss the love of their life, some forget who they are, and others experience the pain of knowing. In all of these books, food contains a lot of power, which all the authors show as magic.
In Like Water for Chocolate the main character Tita is the one who prepares most of the meals. While preparing most of the meals for her family, Tita thinks a lot about her life. She thinks about the happy moments she experienced with Nacha in the Kitchen, and the even bad moments, like when she had to give up her love Pedro to her Sister Rosaura. Everything she feels and thinks is incorporated into her meals. The frustration and anger she feels intertwines with the very meals she is fixing up.
While Tita and Nacha are preparing the Wedding Cake for her sister and the love of her life, Tita cries. Her tears fall into the Wedding cake batter. Nacha tells her to stop, or she will ruin the cake. Nacha tastes the batter to make sure it’s okay. Tita’s tears didn’t ruin the taste of the batter. “The moment they took their first bite of the cake, everyone was flooded with a great wave of longing” (Esquirel 39). This is where the magic kicks in. Tita’s pain was expressed by her tears, which were mixed with the batter. When everyone ate the cake they felt sick, and they felt pain. This is just how Tita feels seeing her sister and Pedro get married. Her tears transpired sadness and hurt in others who tasted the very tears of her sorrow.
Just like in Like Water for Chocolate, in The Odyssey there is magic realism. Odysseus is traveling with his men in the Sea. The winds are so powerful that they drag them places they do not expect to arrive. They arrive in the city of Ismarus, where they get carried away with greed and do not want to leave, until the Cicones attack them. Odysseus and most of his men escape. Because of Odysseus and his men’s greed, Zeus sends a storm that sends them to the land of the Lotus-eaters. There they are offered fruit “Whoever ate that sweet fruit lost the will to report back, preferring instead to stay there, munching lotus, oblivious of home” (Homer book IX lines 94-96). This is where magic realism is incorporated in the story. This fruit is so powerful it makes them forget everything.
Unlike the other books, The Book of J contains a different type of magic. In this book Yahweh is the creator of all living things. He creates a man and a woman. They are both told to not eat from a tree in the garden. If they do “eat from it” said Yahweh “…that day death touches you” (paragraph 3). Both the man and the woman knew the consequences that come with eating from that tree.
Yahweh created many fine animals. But, none of them were like the snake. The snake was “smoother-tongued than any wild creature” (Paragraph 5). This snake talks to the woman, her name is Hava. He asks her about the tree in the garden. Hava explains to the snake that they are allowed to eat from any other tree, but the garden. If they do not obey that, death will fall upon them. The snake convinces Hava that this is not true. He tells her “eyes will fall open like gods, knowing good and bad” (Paragraph 5).
After hearing the snake speak, Hava eats from the tree and shared it with her man. Once they were done their eyes “...fall open, grasp knowledge of naked skin.” This is where the author uses magic realism. Before eating from the tree, you can say they are innocent. When they eat from it they know what it is to be naked. They gain the knowledge of good and bad from eating a fruit from a tree. Also after gaining this knowledge Yahweh punishes them, they experience the pain of knowing, in other words labor. Hava experiences giving birth and all of the pain that comes with it. While her man experiences the pain of hard working. Magic is also shown here because eating from the tree caused them pain and suffering.
Sometimes there are people who wish others could understand how they feel as in the case of Tita. She has to see someone she loves spend the rest of their life with her very own sibling. She without a doubt would have not minded eating the fruit Odysseus and his men ate, or eating the fruit from the tree in the garden, just like Hava. She could have gained the knowledge of good and bad, and could have found a way to be with Pedro, even though it would have caused her pain. Being human comes down to two things, being prepared or not being prepared. Tita wasn’t prepared to see the love of her life move on with her very own sister, but who would? Odysseus didn’t expect to lose his memory, and Hava did not know she would suffer. Magic realism is something many people wished was real because it can be powerful. Many may not, because it could be harmful. Just like in the cases of Tita, Odysseus, and Hava.
Works Cited
Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. Doubleday, 1989
Homer. Odyssey. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co., 2000.
Rosenberg, David, trans. The book of J. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Vintage Books, 1990.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Following Your Dreams
I found Carmen to be the most interesting character in the movie Tortilla Soup. In the beginning of the movie she comes off as a strong independent woman who knows what she wants in life. Even though throughout the movie we see that she isn’t as happy as she seems. Carmen is the character that changes the most throughout the movie. She always wants to please her father, and doesn’t follow her dream because her dad never approved of her being what she wanted to be, a chef.
During the movie we notice that Carmen is a very modern woman and she believes more about living freely. For example, she doesn’t believe that she needs to be married to experience what life would be with a man. She also believes that she is a responsible woman who is aware of her actions. She thinks like this until she realizes she is better than that.
When Carmen’s uncle dies, she realizes that life is too short. She starts to understand that a person’s life shouldn’t be dictated by others but instead be dictated by what makes that individual person happy. Carmen was offered a job in Barcelona, Spain. Her father wanted her to accept the job offer just because he thought it was the best thing for her future not realizing that if Carmen left she will be very unhappy.
In the end, Carmen decides what is best for her. She turns down the job in Barcelona, and becomes a Chef. Sometimes people go on with their lives trying to make others happy while shadowing their own dreams. At trying to please her father, Carmen secludes herself in a world where happiness will come from making his desires come true when truly, it shouldn’t be that way. She realized that she is a better person than that girl who pleased everyone else except herself. She thought that making everyone else happy would please her, but at the end it didn’t turn out to be that way because she didn’t feel satisfied. She realized that what she wanted for herself was more important than what others wanted from her. Carmen, to me, is the strongest woman in the movie. She wasn’t afraid to go with her desires, and followed her dream.
During the movie we notice that Carmen is a very modern woman and she believes more about living freely. For example, she doesn’t believe that she needs to be married to experience what life would be with a man. She also believes that she is a responsible woman who is aware of her actions. She thinks like this until she realizes she is better than that.
When Carmen’s uncle dies, she realizes that life is too short. She starts to understand that a person’s life shouldn’t be dictated by others but instead be dictated by what makes that individual person happy. Carmen was offered a job in Barcelona, Spain. Her father wanted her to accept the job offer just because he thought it was the best thing for her future not realizing that if Carmen left she will be very unhappy.
In the end, Carmen decides what is best for her. She turns down the job in Barcelona, and becomes a Chef. Sometimes people go on with their lives trying to make others happy while shadowing their own dreams. At trying to please her father, Carmen secludes herself in a world where happiness will come from making his desires come true when truly, it shouldn’t be that way. She realized that she is a better person than that girl who pleased everyone else except herself. She thought that making everyone else happy would please her, but at the end it didn’t turn out to be that way because she didn’t feel satisfied. She realized that what she wanted for herself was more important than what others wanted from her. Carmen, to me, is the strongest woman in the movie. She wasn’t afraid to go with her desires, and followed her dream.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Magical Food
Humans consume all types of food that vary from meat to veggies. What could be a delicacy for a group of people can be a taboo for other groups. America is a very diverse country. New York is as diverse. But why exactly do people eat the things they do? Is it because of taste, custom, and/or tradition, or perhaps a certain connection a group or person may feel for that specific food item? In the books Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquirel and in The Odyssey by Homer, food contains a lot of power, in other words, magic.
In Like Water for Chocolate the main character Tita is the one who prepares most of the meals. While preparing most of the meals for her family, Tita thinks a lot about her life. She thinks about the happy moments she experienced with Nacha in the Kitchen, and the even bad moments, like when she had to give up her love Pedro to her Sister Rosaura. Everything she feels and thinks is incorporated into her meals. The frustration and anger she feels intertwines with the very meals she is fixing up.
While Tita and Nacha are preparing the Wedding Cake for her sister and the love of her life, Tita cries. Her tears fall into the Wedding cake batter. Nacha tells her to stop, or she will ruin the cake. Nacha tastes the batter to make sure it’s okay. Tita’s tears didn’t ruin the taste of the batter. Later on, everyone is enjoying the Wedding cake that was prepared, but a few minutes later everyone was feeling sick and started to throw up. This is where the magic kicks in. Tita’s pain was expressed by her tears, which were mixed with the batter. When everyone ate the cake they felt sick, and they felt pain. This is just how Tita feels seeing her sister and Pedro get married. Her tears transpired sadness and hurt in others who tasted the very tears of her sorrow.
Just like in Like Water for Chocolate, in The Odyssey there is magic realism.
Odysseus is traveling with his men in the Sea. The winds are so powerful that they drag them places they do not expect to arrive. They arrive in the city of Ismarus, where they get carried away with greed and do not want to leave, until the Cicones attack them. Odysseus and most of his men escape. Because of Odysseus and his men’s greed, Zeus sends a storm that sends them to the land of the Lotus-eaters. There they are offered fruit that makes them forget everything. This is where magic realism is incorporated in the story.
Sometimes there are people who wish others could understand how they feel as in the case of Tita. She has to see someone she loves spend the rest of their life with her very own sibling. She without a doubt would have not mind eating the fruit Odysseus and his men ate. Being human comes down to two things, being prepared or not being prepared. Tita wasn’t prepared to see the love of her life move on with her very own sister, but who would? She wouldn’t hesitate to forget and move on. Magic realism is something many people wished was real, but there isn’t.
In Like Water for Chocolate the main character Tita is the one who prepares most of the meals. While preparing most of the meals for her family, Tita thinks a lot about her life. She thinks about the happy moments she experienced with Nacha in the Kitchen, and the even bad moments, like when she had to give up her love Pedro to her Sister Rosaura. Everything she feels and thinks is incorporated into her meals. The frustration and anger she feels intertwines with the very meals she is fixing up.
While Tita and Nacha are preparing the Wedding Cake for her sister and the love of her life, Tita cries. Her tears fall into the Wedding cake batter. Nacha tells her to stop, or she will ruin the cake. Nacha tastes the batter to make sure it’s okay. Tita’s tears didn’t ruin the taste of the batter. Later on, everyone is enjoying the Wedding cake that was prepared, but a few minutes later everyone was feeling sick and started to throw up. This is where the magic kicks in. Tita’s pain was expressed by her tears, which were mixed with the batter. When everyone ate the cake they felt sick, and they felt pain. This is just how Tita feels seeing her sister and Pedro get married. Her tears transpired sadness and hurt in others who tasted the very tears of her sorrow.
Just like in Like Water for Chocolate, in The Odyssey there is magic realism.
Odysseus is traveling with his men in the Sea. The winds are so powerful that they drag them places they do not expect to arrive. They arrive in the city of Ismarus, where they get carried away with greed and do not want to leave, until the Cicones attack them. Odysseus and most of his men escape. Because of Odysseus and his men’s greed, Zeus sends a storm that sends them to the land of the Lotus-eaters. There they are offered fruit that makes them forget everything. This is where magic realism is incorporated in the story.
Sometimes there are people who wish others could understand how they feel as in the case of Tita. She has to see someone she loves spend the rest of their life with her very own sibling. She without a doubt would have not mind eating the fruit Odysseus and his men ate. Being human comes down to two things, being prepared or not being prepared. Tita wasn’t prepared to see the love of her life move on with her very own sister, but who would? She wouldn’t hesitate to forget and move on. Magic realism is something many people wished was real, but there isn’t.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Fruit
In todays society people's lives are consumed by workng, family, and bills. Today, people in the modern world are accustomed to seeing skyscrapers, polluted streets, and many businesses. People in our modern era are more likely to eat out than cook a meal at home. The more people eat out, the less they can enjoy cooking. Foods made for selection are usually those that an ethnicity prefers. Foods that are a cultural norm to one group can be taboo to another. Is it possible that because peoples lives are so consumed they fail to give signigifigance to something like a fruit? Well the Chinese do.
One family of fruit that symbolizes a lot to the chinese people is the Citrus family. When Americans think about Oranges or Tangerines they think of breakfast or a snack. For the Chinese it symbolizes something big. According to Flavor and Fortune an "Orange means a prayer or wish for good fortune." This fruit is one of the most common fruit that are offered and are usually eaten on the second day of the new year. It's weird that they wouldn't eat it on the first day, but this is because an emperor offered Oranges to his officals on the second day. So by doing this you are representing "Officaldom". Which means to welcome more regime in Asia.
The mandarin, another fruit part of the citrus family is usually given to a woman by her in-laws the day of her wedding. She is to peal them at the ceremony, and share it with her husband. This symbolizes "a happy and full life together" for the newlyweds. This is not the only thing it means. In cantanese the word mandarin means gold. So not only are the in-laws wishing them happiness and a long beautiful life together, but they are also wishing them a lot of wealth.
One fruit that's not part of the citrus and does not represent happiness is the pear. According to Flavor and Fortune the chinese do not like to share a pear with their partner because it means seperation. So they do not give pears as gifts.It is said to not give a pear to a friend on the seventh or fifteenth day of the month because you will be wishing "separation on someone they love."
It's interesting how all these fruits have a meaning, and to most people it's just something to eat. People tend to overlook nature, and everything that it means. One thing that means nothing to one person, can mean a lot to another. Which is why we should always have open minds about everything we encounter during our lives.
http://www.flavorandfortune.com/dataaccess/article.php?ID=27
One family of fruit that symbolizes a lot to the chinese people is the Citrus family. When Americans think about Oranges or Tangerines they think of breakfast or a snack. For the Chinese it symbolizes something big. According to Flavor and Fortune an "Orange means a prayer or wish for good fortune." This fruit is one of the most common fruit that are offered and are usually eaten on the second day of the new year. It's weird that they wouldn't eat it on the first day, but this is because an emperor offered Oranges to his officals on the second day. So by doing this you are representing "Officaldom". Which means to welcome more regime in Asia.
The mandarin, another fruit part of the citrus family is usually given to a woman by her in-laws the day of her wedding. She is to peal them at the ceremony, and share it with her husband. This symbolizes "a happy and full life together" for the newlyweds. This is not the only thing it means. In cantanese the word mandarin means gold. So not only are the in-laws wishing them happiness and a long beautiful life together, but they are also wishing them a lot of wealth.
One fruit that's not part of the citrus and does not represent happiness is the pear. According to Flavor and Fortune the chinese do not like to share a pear with their partner because it means seperation. So they do not give pears as gifts.It is said to not give a pear to a friend on the seventh or fifteenth day of the month because you will be wishing "separation on someone they love."
It's interesting how all these fruits have a meaning, and to most people it's just something to eat. People tend to overlook nature, and everything that it means. One thing that means nothing to one person, can mean a lot to another. Which is why we should always have open minds about everything we encounter during our lives.
http://www.flavorandfortune.com/dataaccess/article.php?ID=27
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Xenia
Xenia is the concept of hospitality and generosity to strangers. Then in return the stranger will tell stories about where they are from and about their traveling. I think this concept really sucks. I would hate to have to treat some random person that walks into my home nice and with respect. I would not know if that person could be trusted or not. Once the person is in your home, you have to basically do everything for them. You have to feed them, and provide them with everything they please or need.
What I find the most interesting about this concept is that you cannot ask your guest any questions. I think that’s ridiculous, in these times no one will let a stranger in their home especially if they don’t know why the person needs your hospitality. I am surprised that this concept was created, because we all know that is really hard to trust people, especially someone who just walks up to your doors and tells you they need to come into your home.
The Greek god Zeus created this concept, which is why I believe it was actually followed. For example if this concept was to be reinforced again, no one would follow it, because in those days the Greek people felt like the gods were always watching them. So if they didn’t follow it they felt they will be punished by the gods. Now, if this was enforced no one would care because there is no one to watch us or tell us that what we are doing is wrong.
Sources:
Disscusion in class
http://en.allexperts.com/e/x/xe/xenia_%28greek%29.htm
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