War Rages Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel Although wars are fought for many reasons, ultimately, wars are fought for one reason only; freedom. The same is true in Laura Esquivel's magical realism, Like Water for Chocolate. While this novel is set during the time of the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1917, another war rages within the confines of a family ranch and in the lives of the people who live there. Esquivel cleverly uses the context of war to explore the lives of individuals and their struggle to achieve the goal of the revolution for themselves: independence. “War is hell,” a famous but simple quote from General William T. Sherman in another great civil war, is accurate. In this story, Tita, MamaElena's youngest daughter, discovers that her own life is hell, while living under the rule of her tyrannical mother. Although her mother prevents Tita from marrying the love of her life (Pedro) and living in this joyful communion, Tita ultimately becomes victorious in her quest for love and her journey to self-realization. She is forbidden to marry due to a long family tradition imposed by her mother and Tita finds herself not only in conflict with her mother, her sister and her lover, but also within her own existence. The rigid family tradition that the youngest daughter must remain unmarried to care for her mother in old age becomes a thorn in Tita's flesh. Her refusal to accept this unwanted mission pushes her to become a rebel against the abuse, pain and fear her mother inflicted on her. Its cause is obvious; injustice. Tita is ready to commit to fighting against a life of injustice, a life that confines her to a life without love. Although Tita submits to the demanding regime her mother imposes on her daily through endless chores, she has an inner strength that fuels her goal to continue fighting for the next generation of girls. Tita uses an unexpected weapon to achieve her goal of victory; food. She realizes the power that food offers her. The first experience of this power occurs at the wedding of his sister Rosaura and the forbidden lover Tita. In conflict with his sister for accepting Pedro's marriage proposal, angered and hurt by Pedro's decision to