For many Mexicanos, the maintenance of a public posture of male dominance and the retention of womens isolation from Anglo and other
outsiders served to secure masculine identity, self-esteem, and power Anderson, 1996: 132.
D. Theoretical Framework
The researcher uses three theories and two historical backgrounds to do this research. The first theory is the theory of character and characterization. This
theory is used to analyze the story from the character’s type and his or her characteristics and characterization, which is one of the intrinsic elements. By
using this theory, it is expected that the characteristics and characterization of the character can be revealed and its significance to the story can be understood, for
example Tita’s characterization towards her mother. The second theory is theory of gender roles. This theory is used to
strengthen the previous theor y. This theory will explain more about gender role’s
classification and stereotype especially in Mexican society. Through this theory, it can be known how a man and woman are shaped since their childhood. It is
expected that we can understand why a character does something or behaves in a certain way related to her gender roles.
The third theory is the theory of feminism. This theory concerns on women movement which fights against the patriarchal practice. The women
movement results in the form of resistance. This theory also concerns on the gender inequality told along the story. The inequality creates distinction between
the characters in the novel, especially in their reaction toward family tradition. Therefore, from the novel we can find the gender inequality seen from the
reaction of the characters. The last is the historical backgrounds. The first is about the patriarchy in
Mexican society. This background is used to give knowledge about the condition of Mexican society in relation to gender and the cause of the patriarchy in Mexico.
This background concerns on why the men in Mexico oppress and dominate the women. By using this background, it can be understood why many patriarchal
values seem to give unjust treatment toward women. The second background is Mexican Revolution and gender role. This
background is used to understand deeper about Mexican society, including their history and appliance of patriarchal norms. The researcher will relate it to the
character’s behavior within her family and surroundings. Then, it can be understood the relation between the woman main chara
cter’s action and the women’s action in real life at that period.
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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
This research analyzes a fiction novel of a Mexican writer Laura Esquivel titled Like Water for Chocolate. The novel is written in 1989, and filmed in 1992
biography.com. The first version of the story is written in Spanish with title Como Agua para Chocolate. This novel has been translated from the original
Spanish into many languages. The English translation is done by Carol and Thomas Christensen and published by Anchor Books publisher in its first edition
on November 1995. The novel is originally published in hardcover in the United
States by Doubleday in 1992.
This novel is filmed in 1992, directed by Alfonso Arau. The film gets all 11 Ariel awards of the Mexican Academy of Motion Pictures, including the Ariel
Award for Best Picture. This novel is sold over 4.5 million copies biography.com. This film is the highest grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the United
States at the time. The Washington Post states that the story in Like Water for Chocolate is the portrayal of the Mexican feminism.
This story is dominated by Mexican culture, even it has the setting of the Mexican Revolution. Laura wrote this story in monthly installments, and she
