May You Read The Note Aloud Please? And Put That Rabbit Away!

Note: This essay was originally 5 paragraphs, but I broke down the body paragraphs so it would be easier on the eyes. The introduction and conclusion have not been changed.

Food and Magic. Food and Communication. They are quite synonymous, as much as one may not be ailed to believe. Instead of one easily; and disturbingly, passing a note in class, as we had all encountered at some point in our lives, one can do a much more thorough (and illustrative) job of conveying a message - through food. In the world of fiction, this role of communication is starkly expanded upon via the use of magic, making the role twofold. In Homer's The Odyssey, and Laura Esquivel's Like Water For Chocolate, they simply cannot exist without the other, they are simply not independent.

In Like Water For Chocolate, we are introduced to a very special young girl, Josefita "Tita" De La Garza. She is special not just because of how determined she in the face of a markedly harsh life, but because of the significant circumstances under which she was born, being literally "washed into this world on a great tide of tears" (Esquivel 6). Considering Esquivel's tale is of the genre of magical realism, it becomes inevitable that these fanciful tales of of impossibilities become something of repeated occurrence. Tita, being born into the kitchen, literally becomes "one" with the kitchen, with her cooking portraying her very emotions, being aided by God knows what; for this we can assume it's the tricks of the trade so many children are entertained by at birthday parties.

But because the food she so delightfully prepares is able to portray her emotions, Esquivel is able to portray to the reader the concept of "emotional eating", amongst other things. No, we aren't witness to the tales you watch on Oprah or read in People of those who over consume due to their emotions taking over, no. In here, "emotional eating" takes on a whole new, and quite literal meaning. Tita, being left by Pedro in favor for her sister Rosaura; because of her imprisonment to a cruel fate, cries nonstop whilst making the wedding cake for her beloved. She's there preparing the cake at the wedding that should be rightfully hers, and expected not to cry? Oh yes, nothing's definitely going to wrong in this scenario. One can never truly hide one's emotions, and these are the things that speak far louder than words. Because of how emotionally broken she was left, while preparing the food, the guests at the wedding, upon eating the cake are overcome by "a strange intoxication-an acute attack of pain and frustration" (Esquivel 39).

They are left in the same emotional anguish Tita is left in, of the same overbearing grief of heartbreak, and as a result are left in tears and end up in the same state Tita is left in. "Everyone there, every last person, fell under this spell", and are thus left privy to vomiting all over (Esquivel 39). Here, food is influenced by some force (magic) unmistakably metaphysical. Tita's cooking, or Tita, herself rather, is able to convey her emotions onto the food of which persons eat. Tita, who can't quite communicate to Pedro personally that she is so hurt by his pending marriage; due to her cruel fate, decides to pour (inadvertently) her thoughts and feelings into the food she prepares. Thus, this leaves the guests in utter disgust for how bad it tastes, for that is how she feels. Emotional eating at it's most finest, and most disgusting is portrayed here. Not into disgusting examples? Why, here's one for the PG-13 crowd.

Shortly after the wedding, Tita receives a rose(but in secret), from Pedro amidst not wanting his secret; that he married Rosaura only to be close to Tita, to be revealed as he tries his best not to be noticed by his dictatorial mother-in-law, Mama Elena. In lieu of this, Tita prepares dinner. Amidst all this, receiving a rose from her beloved, but knowing she must do away with it, incorporates the rose she has just received into the quail she would soon prepare, creating the quail in rose petal sauce. She was once heartbroken, but her feelings for Pedro had already been restored before the dish was to be made. As a result, "they couldn't take their eyes off each other", for they were so enamored by the plate's delight (Esquivel 52). But the dish produced far more than simple puppy love, for it produced in poor (well...) Getrudis a markedly sexual message; her now being the outlet for what Tita so wished to reveal and express to Pedro in a far more secluded place. The very fiber of her love for Pedro, is able to manifest itself in Gertrudis who soon runs off in a very lustful manner atop a horse with Juan, before finding herself amidst a brothel. These examples only continue, and show that food, being influenced by magic convey (communicate) Tita's very thoughts and feelings, that she is unable to express directly due to the ramifications she would suffer under Mama Elena. But that's only half of it.

Of course, food and magic is found in another tale, The Odyssey. In this epic poem, we become privy to Odysseus' fanciful flights with horror and heroism. The tales are all quite entertaining, despite skepticism into his character. We can, however, note that the concept of food's synonymy in regards to magic and communication is quite prevalent even in some "archaic" writings. However, I believe the meanings shown here are of a more complex tone than the ones noted previously. For example, take the Lotus Eaters. Odysseus and his men, upon arriving at the island of the Lotus Eaters, become "slaves" to the magical qualities of the fruit given by it's "friendly inhabitants", sans Odysseus of course. "Whoever ate that sweet fruit lost the will to report back, preferring instead to stay there, munching Lotus, oblivious of home"(Book 9 Lines 94-96). While I originally felt this only portrays that the food has some bizarrely magical (and hallucinogenic?) qualities, I feel that the food also serves as a communicatory role, in how much the Lotus Eaters wanted to express how lonely they really were. The Lotus Eaters, realizing that they are the only ones on the island; and of the fruit's magical qualities, gave the fruits of the island in effort to trap any future explorers, due to their own isolation from the rest of the world.

This was perhaps used used as a motif to express how big of an issue isolation is, and how food draws and brings people together, even forcibly. Later on, upon arriving at the island of Aeaea, Odysseus' men meet Circe, the goddess who would soon become Odysseus' lover. Whilst lavishly feeding them Pramnian wine, "she laced this potion with insidious drugs that would make them forget their own native land. When they had eaten and drunk, she struck them with her wand and herded them in the sties outside. Grunting, their bodies covered with bristles , they looked just like pigs, but their minds were intact" (Book 10 Lines 253-58). Knowing that food is the way (note-communication) to a man's heart; as the old saying often found in popular culture, she so enticed them with food fit for a king, and then struck them down with her wand (ha), turning them into pigs, the men becoming food themselves. But why? I believe Circe simply wanted to show dominance; due to her being a minor goddess, and proved to be a woman who showed dominance towards all men, turning the men so drawn to food, by turning themselves into one of the lowliest forms of animals - pigs. The very same that they perhaps oh so enjoyed at some point prior in their life? I believe Circe wanted to communicate her dominance towards any trespassers by luring the men with food, and then turning the men into food that they so regularly enjoyed by means of magic. Even back then, this synonymity can't be ignored!

It's apparent that food serves as a role to convey messages to people, and this occurs once we bring magic onto the table. No matter how bizarre it may seem to be, it's simply obvious that food conveys different messages to all sorts of characters, no matter what the message. Whether you're afraid (or can't) express feelings personally, up comes magic to save the day. And if you want to show that you're dominant towards individuals, you can lure them with food, and then turn them into the very same thing they need every day - with magic. As I learn more and more about food, I learn that this only one example of how complex nourishment really is, and what food represents in fiction and in culture as well.

Works Cited:

Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. New York: Double Day, 1989.

Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. Indiana: Hacket Publishing, 2000.