On numerous occasions in like water for chocolate, there is mention of Tita’s tendency to be around birds. This ranges from hiding away in the dovecote after hearing of Roberto’s death, to feeling sorry for the quails when preparing to cook quail in rose petal sauce, to almost being killed by a tornado of chickens. There is also the fact that it’s mentioned she enjoys the company of birds. It is made quite clear in the story that the presence of these flying creatures has had a significant impact on Tita’s life.
Even though this idea does not seem to have much affect on the general outcome of the story, the mention of birds extends to the pages of other works we have studied. For instance, in The Romance of Tristan and Iseult, King Mark first falls in love with Iseult by seeing a single strand of her hair. This hair was carried by a dove. Therefore, had there been no bird, the events of the story would have differed dramatically. A separate example would be Tristan’s means of meeting Iseult under the tall pine tree. Tristan would draw Iseult’s attention by imitating the call of a nightingale on such occasions. Similarities can also be noticed in the reference to birds in Romeo and Juliet. Although the actual presence of birds is not noted to be important (unlike the other two texts mentioned), the mentioning of birds (mostly nightingales and larks) was rather frequent in conversations between Romeo and Juliet, as we had discussed in class. This clearly creates imagery and contributes to the overall enhancement of the story.
Seeing as to how three similar stories (similar in the sense that they all revolve around a couple’s love being obstructed by others) mention birds with such frequency, I am lead to believe that the use of this idea in each story is more than just a coincidence.
January 24, 2007 at 12:27 am
Birds are often thought of as symbols for freedom and peace, and that is something that the lovers in the texts we study don’t have, but want desperately. Tita enjoy the presence of birds because they make her happier and probably makes her feel like she can be free, just like them. In Like Water for Chocolate, Tita wanted her hands to become birds and carry her away when she first left the ranch. I think that pretty much sums up why there are so many birds–the symbolism that they represent is very important, so that’s why there are so many feathered fliers in these stories.
January 24, 2007 at 12:29 am
Sorry, forgot to add this part in–birds are seen as symbols of freedom because they can fly freely in the sky and go wherever their heart desires to go. And peace, as in how doves with an olive (or was it another tree?) branch in their beak symbolizes peace.
January 24, 2007 at 1:17 am
Nice observation. On top of symbolism for freedom, peace, and happiness, there may be a more practical reason for birds to appear so many times in so much literature – not just romance. A lot of the texts we studied (or at least, the scenes of birds) take place in a town or some setting that has undergone urban development. In most urban areas, mammals (such as dogs and monkeys) do not roam the streets for many reasons: too crowded, no food, foreign habitat, etc. Fish obviously cannot. Excluding smaller animals (insects, worms, rats, etc), only birds are left. Birds are some of the few animals that are able to stay in developed areas, because they rest on trees (which are available everywhere), and fly around to obtain necessities such as food. Thus it is more likely for us to see birds than other animals.
January 24, 2007 at 1:19 am
Birds are most often used to symbolize freedom due to their ability to fly. The most prominent bird used in Like Water for Chocolate is the chicken. However, they are known not for their ability but rather inability to fly; nobody would say ever something like “she is free like a chicken”. So the question is why chickens? What do they represent?
Chickens are one of the most eaten animals. They also produce eggs, which are also very important to the human diet. When we think about chickens, we think about food. The author used chickens a lot because it represents a major theme in the novel—food. A lot of Tita’s recipes such as the wedding cake, champandongo, and cream fritters used some sort of food produced by the chicken.
Chickens, instead of any other animal created that tornado because of their violent nature. We have all heard of cockfights where many cocks would bloodily kill each other to humans’ amusement. Even in their natural habitats (cages), they still often peck at one another. Many incidents of chicken cannibalism occur. This trait of theirs makes them perfect to be the ones who create a magical and violent tornado.
Another reason for using chickens could be that the author wants to compare Tita to a chicken. Chickens were originally birds that could fly, until humans captured and domesticated them. This is parallel to how Tita, a girl who is supposed to be free, lost her abilities to “fly” (marry, have kids, etc) because she is trapped in Mama Elena’s cage. She is constantly forced work for Elena with very little rewards, just like how the chicken has to provide eggs everyday for their owners. In the end, the chicken would be killed for food, similar to how Tita would be eventually destroyed spiritually and emotionally by the cruel dictatorship of her mother. Chickens produce food and Tita provides food for the family by cooking, another parallel!
As we can see, the usage of birds in Like Water for Chocolate is not very conventional. The author uses them to represent different things that what they are “supposed” to symbolize.
January 24, 2007 at 2:44 am
It is true that birds are present in almost all the texts we studied this year. However, the birds in Like Water for Chocolate are used differently than in other works. In Tristan & Iseult and Romeo & Juliet, birds are mentioned and used mainly by the lovers. Birds or bird-related objects connect the characters in a positive sense. It is safe to say that birds symbolize the peace and freedom the characters desire.
In Like Water for Chocolate, the birds don’t connect any characters together. Tita was alone when preparing the quails and alone when hiding in the dovecote. Also, the birds here all come with a bad event. The quails cause everyone to vomit. The dovecote is the place where Tita goes to hide after an argument with Mama Elena. And the chickens nearly kill her by creating a tornado. These birds cannot represent happiness once you sense the mood surrounding them.
The birds actually remind me more of the birds in Days of Heaven. After seeing them, the story feels a bit more tense as what are meant to be free (the birds) aren’t. I guess it is ironic how freedom symbols can be a sign of an oppressed atmosphere.
January 24, 2007 at 4:04 am
Ignore my line about the quail. It was the cake that caused everyone to vomit, not the quail. Sorry…
January 24, 2007 at 4:06 am
It is possible that birds are not just used because of its metaphorical relation to freedom. Birds are also seen as happy animals. What to birds to so often? …They sing! In a green area where you have lots of birds, the air is usually very pleasant and happy because of the cheerful chirping from the birds. Next, birds are also commended for their beauty. Not just the pretty physical traits of each species, but also the way they fly. It is because of these positive things we see birds with that we associate love with birds. That reminds me of the term “lovebirds”.