Sunday, May 30, 2010
Patience is a Virtue but that doesn't mean it's EASY
I was very fortunate to have such an amazing Professor (Van Slyck) last semester, who held my hand and walked me through the “whole researching journey”. That is probably why it wasn’t too hard for me to find articles but I did have to constantly try different word searches. That eventually did take a bit of a toll on me. However, I kept telling myself how important this Annotated Bibliography was, and that’s what gave me the push to continue and finally finish. I had to be patient and determined. The most useful research skill I used was trying different words in the search key on EBSCO or on JSTOR. I was also actually super happy when I saw I could read the whole inside of The Odyssey because I knew I was done with what I thought would be the most difficult. A positive and negative was that I found so many interesting articles, that I couldn’t decide on just one topic because I felt I know had so much to say. Nevertheless, I am happy I came upon all the articles I did because though I won’t use all of them, I did learned about myths and different perspectives that I would have not thought of in a billion years.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
More similarities than your fingers can hold
In Short Friday, by Isaac Bashevis Singer and Babette’s Feast, by Isak Dinesen, there are more similarities than just both these author’s names being Isaac/Isak. Both stories show the significance and impact food has had on them through a significant event. In Short Friday, Shmul-Leible and Shoshe honor their Sabbath “feast”, as they enjoy good food together while reading and singing prayers. However, in Babette’s Feast, Martine and Philippa grow compassionate towards Babette; by her artistry in cooking they become more grateful than ever. Through these similar but diverse stories we see the powerful effect food can have on literature’s characters.
Some similarities in both Short Friday and Babette’s Feast are that they deal with religiously devout characters. Shmul-Leible, Shoshe, Martine, and Philippa may be of a different religion, yet they all practice their faith earnestly. Both stories also talk of the afterlife; obviously being religious they believe in a life to come after we die with Paradise or “Heaven” being called out precisely. In Short Friday, an Angel comes and takes both Shoshe and her husband to Paradise when in Babette’s Feast Philippa embraces Babette and tells her that her art is never a loss, because in Paradise she will be all God wants her to be. Also, we see affection and sexuality, though Babette’s feast only tells of a kiss, yet it only takes a kiss to start something. However, both daughters run from any affection that could one day be marital to continue the sect and legacy their father had started. Nevertheless, Shoshe gives in to her husbands “new tricks” of affection, though it crosses the line of what is allowed in their Jewish religion. Another very interestingly similarity is that Shmul-Leible and Lorens Loewenhielm both had a case of home-sickness. Shmul-Leible lived a short home-sickness because we would anticipate finally going home and seeing his beautiful wife; telling her how great her food is. On the other hand, Lorens Loewenhielm was not from Norway, where it was Martine’s actual home city, but with her beauty and him falling in such love with her, it in a sense became his home because he would continuously visit her house. Yet, this “home” he had created made him feel so small and worthless at the same time because he never had the guts to tell her of his feelings but years later he returns and tells Martine that he has never forgotten her and never will. Both these men are looked upon as more manly through their “homesickness” because they always remember their “home”. Yet, through all these similarities, I think the most obvious is how these characters express their deep love for those around them. Shoshe cooks the most delightful food she can afford for her noble husband and Babette uses all her lottery money for Martine, Philippa and other guest’s feast to not only be of use in her creativeness, but also to show her great love for Martine and Philippa.
Though I explained few differences, it is simple to see that all their appetites whether it is sexual, creative, or actual hunger are explained through food. Both authors use food, paradise, religion, sexuality, and much more to get their point across. The point that came across to me is that food is extremely important and when joined with many other things they have a significant impact which could one day lead you to Paradise.
Some similarities in both Short Friday and Babette’s Feast are that they deal with religiously devout characters. Shmul-Leible, Shoshe, Martine, and Philippa may be of a different religion, yet they all practice their faith earnestly. Both stories also talk of the afterlife; obviously being religious they believe in a life to come after we die with Paradise or “Heaven” being called out precisely. In Short Friday, an Angel comes and takes both Shoshe and her husband to Paradise when in Babette’s Feast Philippa embraces Babette and tells her that her art is never a loss, because in Paradise she will be all God wants her to be. Also, we see affection and sexuality, though Babette’s feast only tells of a kiss, yet it only takes a kiss to start something. However, both daughters run from any affection that could one day be marital to continue the sect and legacy their father had started. Nevertheless, Shoshe gives in to her husbands “new tricks” of affection, though it crosses the line of what is allowed in their Jewish religion. Another very interestingly similarity is that Shmul-Leible and Lorens Loewenhielm both had a case of home-sickness. Shmul-Leible lived a short home-sickness because we would anticipate finally going home and seeing his beautiful wife; telling her how great her food is. On the other hand, Lorens Loewenhielm was not from Norway, where it was Martine’s actual home city, but with her beauty and him falling in such love with her, it in a sense became his home because he would continuously visit her house. Yet, this “home” he had created made him feel so small and worthless at the same time because he never had the guts to tell her of his feelings but years later he returns and tells Martine that he has never forgotten her and never will. Both these men are looked upon as more manly through their “homesickness” because they always remember their “home”. Yet, through all these similarities, I think the most obvious is how these characters express their deep love for those around them. Shoshe cooks the most delightful food she can afford for her noble husband and Babette uses all her lottery money for Martine, Philippa and other guest’s feast to not only be of use in her creativeness, but also to show her great love for Martine and Philippa.
Though I explained few differences, it is simple to see that all their appetites whether it is sexual, creative, or actual hunger are explained through food. Both authors use food, paradise, religion, sexuality, and much more to get their point across. The point that came across to me is that food is extremely important and when joined with many other things they have a significant impact which could one day lead you to Paradise.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Draft: Food and Dominance
Food is not only symbolic in literature to reinforce how essential it is, but is also used to show a bold message. Some messages can be Messages food and communication; food and magic; or food and knowledge. Yet, I was quickly drawn to the conveying message of food and dominance. In Like Water for Chocolate, The Odyssey and The Book of J, certain characters use food as a domain of obtaining control. Hence, in these books, we can see that a reward when food is used as control is to gain through one's actions or efforts a higher dominance, where through food they are now in control of a certain situation. However, their actions of using food as a control method can also lead to a punishment like an equality being taken away.
In Like Water for Chocolate, Tita is a very likeable character that drives the reader with anticipation throughout the story, hoping she can finally be reunited with her long love, Pedro, though he is married to her older sister, Rosaura. Yet, what is so amazing and differentiates Tita from her sisters and other characters is not only her great cooking ability, but that the emotions she undergoes before or while cooking are in some way instilled into the food while it is being cooked. She came out of the womb in that kitchen, on a table, surrounded by the smells of thyme, bay leaves, and cilantro and has made an identity for herself in that kitchen. Being the youngest of all sisters, she was cursed with the tradition of never being able to marry because she would have to take care of Mama Elena. It’s no surprise Tita had to find a place to dominate and though Nacha taught her all she knew, Tita surely took control of the kitchen. A great example of Tita taking control with her magical emotions in food is when she is preparing the meringue icing for Rosaura’s wedding cake. She can't help herself but cry and cry so much that the color of the icing turned pink. Later, everyone who ate from the cake also began to cry, with “an acute attack of pain and frustration-that seized the guests and scattered them across the patio grounds and in the bathrooms, all of them wailing over a lost love” (39). Tita’s tears were so powerful that all the guests who feasted on the cake became sick to their stomachs throwing up with an immense uproar of nostalgia in their hearts. This after effect only happened because Tita prepared the cake heartbroken knowing she must now accept the notion of her never being allowed to be with her newly wedded love. Another great example of Tita taking control through food is when she made “Quail in Rose Petal Sauce” from roses Pedro had just given her. The feelings she imputed into this meal from Pedro watching her body sway as she cooked turned the food into an aphrodisiac for Gertrudis. She had an intense heat running through her body that when she went out to take a refreshing shower she could not enjoy it because the drops would evaporate before they hit her.”Her body was giving off so much heat that the wooden walls began to split and burst into flame” (pg 54). Gertrudis began to panic because she didn’t want to burn to death that she began to run completely naked. Yet, she did not know that the heat running through her body let out a strong aroma which had attracted the man she fantasized at dinner. She rides off with the soldier, Juan, while making love on his horse. Tita’s emotions while cooking augmented a wave of eroticism for Gertrudis that she finally let out her inner sexual desire. Through food Tita became dominant, doing things her way with an unconscious effect, where Mama Elena could not stop the aftermath of those who ate from her food.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of Aeaea. Odysseus sees “smoke rising up through the brushy wood” on the island and asks half of his men to go and see what is occurring. The men go about and hear the voice of a beautiful goddess singing as she was weaving. They call to her and she, Circe, calls them in to her glorious home. She offered them food and they feasted eagerly. Yet, she lavishly feed 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" (X, 253-58). She was cunning and enticed them with delicious food and great wine when she struck them with her wand and turned them into swine, ironically enough becoming food themselves. There can be numerous reasons to why she did this, but dominance is where I’m lean toward with Circe. She is a goddess, yet still a woman who must prove herself, so she lured them with her food and turned them into one of the lowliest forms an animal could be-pigs. The potion also made them forget their native land, causing them to lose the knowledge of their families and future destination, though they couldn’t go far being pigs. She definitely has a feminine agenda because she wanted to show who was boss through food and her magic. This is also why Hermes explains to Odysseus that once Circe knows who he is and asks him to go to bed with her that he must make her swear not to un-sex him once he is naked. Circe took control through means of her food and magic and her dominance was something she upheld virtuously.
In The Book of J, Yahweh told “the man” (Adam) he can eat of any tree but forbade the tree of knowing good and bad. Nevertheless, Hava (Eve) partook of the fruit because the snake told her death will not touch her if she eats from it. She saw how “good” the tree looked and reached for it, ate, then gave to man. Yet, when Yahweh realized of their disobedience and that Hava and the man knew they were naked he said to Hava that she would have "Pain increasing groans that spread into groans: having children will be labor. To man's body your belly will rise, for he will be eager above you"(8). Hard and heavy labor just was not enough because now she is also ruled by her husband. Hava is a great example of the imperfect nature of not just woman but human beings in general because we desire to be in control. Now Hava ate out of curiosity and desired to gain wisdom out of the tree of knowing good and evil, which made her more dominate in the moment than the man. Yet, one of the many results in tasting the fruit is her husband shall rule over her. Therefore, as a punishment she lost her dominance or "equality" to man by food.
By comparing Tita, Circe, and Hava you see that all women in some way find themselves doing what they wanted in the end, either because Tita no longer wanted to care what anyone else thought of her love for Pedro, Circe wanting to prove herself as a strong woman, or because the serpent beguiled Hava. They also had a new insight for example, Tita’s outlet will always be cooking but she learned to express her inner feelings in other means and finally stood up to her domineering mother. Circe’s insight may not be permanent but once she fell in love with Odysseus she gave in and turned his men back to humans, and they were even more handsome than before. Hava also gained a new perspective of life and new knowledge in things she did not know before. Their contradictions are even more evident because Tita found authority in the kitchen by making food; meanwhile Hava lost her dominion or “equality” by eating of the fruit. Circe just played her tricks on men because she could do so making her dominate almost always with her food and magic. All these stories are good examples of various ways food can help one feel and or become dominate or even loose the only dominance they had.
Through all these examples from Like Water for Chocolate, The Odyssey and The Book of J, we can quickly tell that food is an essential tool that characters use to obtain authority. Tita, Circe, and Hava all used food under their control to gain or keep the control they were receiving through food. The reasons on why they used food as their control can simply be told that everyone usually wants things to go their way. That is why food comes so handy in literature because these characters can easily take food and make it a domain of obtaining control.
Works Cited:
Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. New York: Double Day, 1989.
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. Indiana: Hacket Publishing, 2000
The Book of J. Trans. David Rosenberg. ED. Harold Bloom. New York: Grove, 1990.
In Like Water for Chocolate, Tita is a very likeable character that drives the reader with anticipation throughout the story, hoping she can finally be reunited with her long love, Pedro, though he is married to her older sister, Rosaura. Yet, what is so amazing and differentiates Tita from her sisters and other characters is not only her great cooking ability, but that the emotions she undergoes before or while cooking are in some way instilled into the food while it is being cooked. She came out of the womb in that kitchen, on a table, surrounded by the smells of thyme, bay leaves, and cilantro and has made an identity for herself in that kitchen. Being the youngest of all sisters, she was cursed with the tradition of never being able to marry because she would have to take care of Mama Elena. It’s no surprise Tita had to find a place to dominate and though Nacha taught her all she knew, Tita surely took control of the kitchen. A great example of Tita taking control with her magical emotions in food is when she is preparing the meringue icing for Rosaura’s wedding cake. She can't help herself but cry and cry so much that the color of the icing turned pink. Later, everyone who ate from the cake also began to cry, with “an acute attack of pain and frustration-that seized the guests and scattered them across the patio grounds and in the bathrooms, all of them wailing over a lost love” (39). Tita’s tears were so powerful that all the guests who feasted on the cake became sick to their stomachs throwing up with an immense uproar of nostalgia in their hearts. This after effect only happened because Tita prepared the cake heartbroken knowing she must now accept the notion of her never being allowed to be with her newly wedded love. Another great example of Tita taking control through food is when she made “Quail in Rose Petal Sauce” from roses Pedro had just given her. The feelings she imputed into this meal from Pedro watching her body sway as she cooked turned the food into an aphrodisiac for Gertrudis. She had an intense heat running through her body that when she went out to take a refreshing shower she could not enjoy it because the drops would evaporate before they hit her.”Her body was giving off so much heat that the wooden walls began to split and burst into flame” (pg 54). Gertrudis began to panic because she didn’t want to burn to death that she began to run completely naked. Yet, she did not know that the heat running through her body let out a strong aroma which had attracted the man she fantasized at dinner. She rides off with the soldier, Juan, while making love on his horse. Tita’s emotions while cooking augmented a wave of eroticism for Gertrudis that she finally let out her inner sexual desire. Through food Tita became dominant, doing things her way with an unconscious effect, where Mama Elena could not stop the aftermath of those who ate from her food.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of Aeaea. Odysseus sees “smoke rising up through the brushy wood” on the island and asks half of his men to go and see what is occurring. The men go about and hear the voice of a beautiful goddess singing as she was weaving. They call to her and she, Circe, calls them in to her glorious home. She offered them food and they feasted eagerly. Yet, she lavishly feed 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" (X, 253-58). She was cunning and enticed them with delicious food and great wine when she struck them with her wand and turned them into swine, ironically enough becoming food themselves. There can be numerous reasons to why she did this, but dominance is where I’m lean toward with Circe. She is a goddess, yet still a woman who must prove herself, so she lured them with her food and turned them into one of the lowliest forms an animal could be-pigs. The potion also made them forget their native land, causing them to lose the knowledge of their families and future destination, though they couldn’t go far being pigs. She definitely has a feminine agenda because she wanted to show who was boss through food and her magic. This is also why Hermes explains to Odysseus that once Circe knows who he is and asks him to go to bed with her that he must make her swear not to un-sex him once he is naked. Circe took control through means of her food and magic and her dominance was something she upheld virtuously.
In The Book of J, Yahweh told “the man” (Adam) he can eat of any tree but forbade the tree of knowing good and bad. Nevertheless, Hava (Eve) partook of the fruit because the snake told her death will not touch her if she eats from it. She saw how “good” the tree looked and reached for it, ate, then gave to man. Yet, when Yahweh realized of their disobedience and that Hava and the man knew they were naked he said to Hava that she would have "Pain increasing groans that spread into groans: having children will be labor. To man's body your belly will rise, for he will be eager above you"(8). Hard and heavy labor just was not enough because now she is also ruled by her husband. Hava is a great example of the imperfect nature of not just woman but human beings in general because we desire to be in control. Now Hava ate out of curiosity and desired to gain wisdom out of the tree of knowing good and evil, which made her more dominate in the moment than the man. Yet, one of the many results in tasting the fruit is her husband shall rule over her. Therefore, as a punishment she lost her dominance or "equality" to man by food.
By comparing Tita, Circe, and Hava you see that all women in some way find themselves doing what they wanted in the end, either because Tita no longer wanted to care what anyone else thought of her love for Pedro, Circe wanting to prove herself as a strong woman, or because the serpent beguiled Hava. They also had a new insight for example, Tita’s outlet will always be cooking but she learned to express her inner feelings in other means and finally stood up to her domineering mother. Circe’s insight may not be permanent but once she fell in love with Odysseus she gave in and turned his men back to humans, and they were even more handsome than before. Hava also gained a new perspective of life and new knowledge in things she did not know before. Their contradictions are even more evident because Tita found authority in the kitchen by making food; meanwhile Hava lost her dominion or “equality” by eating of the fruit. Circe just played her tricks on men because she could do so making her dominate almost always with her food and magic. All these stories are good examples of various ways food can help one feel and or become dominate or even loose the only dominance they had.
Through all these examples from Like Water for Chocolate, The Odyssey and The Book of J, we can quickly tell that food is an essential tool that characters use to obtain authority. Tita, Circe, and Hava all used food under their control to gain or keep the control they were receiving through food. The reasons on why they used food as their control can simply be told that everyone usually wants things to go their way. That is why food comes so handy in literature because these characters can easily take food and make it a domain of obtaining control.
Works Cited:
Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. New York: Double Day, 1989.
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. Indiana: Hacket Publishing, 2000
The Book of J. Trans. David Rosenberg. ED. Harold Bloom. New York: Grove, 1990.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Leticia’s Thong of Courage
In "Tortilla Soup", a retired chef named Martin Naranjo, has three very individual adult daughters who are living at home discovering their own recipe for happiness. The eldest daughter, Leticia is a conservative high school chemistry teacher who converted from being Catholic to a born-again Christian. She is clearly shown in the movie as “conservative” because we see her with her knee length skirt and sweater, who has just came from church. She also prays out loud before her meals, vigorously pleading for blessings, etc. Yet, quickly enough you notice she is repressing or lacking something in her life.
In the middle of an argument within the sisters, Leticia tells them that her life is to stay at home taking care of their father, not to go and sleep with every man she’s dated (said specifically to Carmen). Yet, funny enough many times we seem to call out others on their “flaws”,simply because we long to have the courage to do something they have. Consequently, Leticia was not looking to have sex with many men, but she was definitely longing for romance or passion in her life. Every time another character suggests something to Leticia, she shoves the advice away but only for so long. One example of this is in the very beginning of the movie when she strolls into the salon to visit her friend and the hair stylist advices her to cut her hair for a new fresh look. She pulls away and makes it clear she doesn’t want this “new fresh do” but before she leaves the salon she pauses and glances in the mirror trying to visualize how this new "change" might just look. Another is when her friend’s mother comes to visit and advices her to put some cream on her eyes(because of slight wrinkles)since she’s the oldest and still not married, then maybe she'll get more luck. Only until later you notice at night while she reads some cards that she is again looking in the mirror applying cream to her eyes. This can be very symbolic and tuning us in on her “inner thoughts” because she is getting older and is still not married, therefore, all the advice she is given and ponders about is only reflected on her physical being.
Soon enough we notice the feelings she might have been repressing or longing for are some romance in her life. Leticia finds herself attracted to Orlando Castillo, a baseball coach at her school. Funny enough her students prank her by making fake love notes, meanwhile, she believes it is from him. When one of the notes says he loves her and she finds the courage to stroll down to the baseball field and tell him her deep emotions. Maybe the courage was from her thinking she looked nice that day because she had her hair down and nicely down, with make-up, and let’s not forget her thong. This put together, Jesus loving, conservative woman was only looking for love. When unexpectedly at dinner she tells her father that she and Orlando have gotten married in Las Vegas. Through her character we can tell that though people may be conservative, they still have surprises or some unexpected ingredients waiting to be heated up.
In the middle of an argument within the sisters, Leticia tells them that her life is to stay at home taking care of their father, not to go and sleep with every man she’s dated (said specifically to Carmen). Yet, funny enough many times we seem to call out others on their “flaws”,simply because we long to have the courage to do something they have. Consequently, Leticia was not looking to have sex with many men, but she was definitely longing for romance or passion in her life. Every time another character suggests something to Leticia, she shoves the advice away but only for so long. One example of this is in the very beginning of the movie when she strolls into the salon to visit her friend and the hair stylist advices her to cut her hair for a new fresh look. She pulls away and makes it clear she doesn’t want this “new fresh do” but before she leaves the salon she pauses and glances in the mirror trying to visualize how this new "change" might just look. Another is when her friend’s mother comes to visit and advices her to put some cream on her eyes(because of slight wrinkles)since she’s the oldest and still not married, then maybe she'll get more luck. Only until later you notice at night while she reads some cards that she is again looking in the mirror applying cream to her eyes. This can be very symbolic and tuning us in on her “inner thoughts” because she is getting older and is still not married, therefore, all the advice she is given and ponders about is only reflected on her physical being.
Soon enough we notice the feelings she might have been repressing or longing for are some romance in her life. Leticia finds herself attracted to Orlando Castillo, a baseball coach at her school. Funny enough her students prank her by making fake love notes, meanwhile, she believes it is from him. When one of the notes says he loves her and she finds the courage to stroll down to the baseball field and tell him her deep emotions. Maybe the courage was from her thinking she looked nice that day because she had her hair down and nicely down, with make-up, and let’s not forget her thong. This put together, Jesus loving, conservative woman was only looking for love. When unexpectedly at dinner she tells her father that she and Orlando have gotten married in Las Vegas. Through her character we can tell that though people may be conservative, they still have surprises or some unexpected ingredients waiting to be heated up.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Food and Dominance
As we have learned in our class discussions food can transcend a bold message in literature like food and gender; food and magic; food and knowledge or food and communication. Yet, I was quickly appealed to the conveying message of food and dominance. In Like Water for chocolate and The book of J, certain characters use food as a domain of obtaining control. Hence, in these books we can see that a reward when food is used as control is acquiring a higher dominance or it can be a punishment leading to an equality being taken away.
In Like Water for Chocolate, Tita is a very likeable character that drives you with anticipation throughout the story, hoping she can finally be reunited with her long love Pedro, though he is married to her older sister Rosaura. Yet, what is so amazing and differentiates Tita from her sisters and other characters is not only her great cooking ability but that the emotions she undergoes before or while cooking in some way are instilled and stirred in the food while it is being cooked. She came out of the womb in that kitchen, on a table, surrounded by the smells of thyme, bay leaves, and cilantro and has made an identity for herself in that kitchen. Being the youngest of all sisters she was cursed with the tradition of never being able to marry because she would have to take care of Mama Elena. It’s no surprise Tita had to find a place to dominate and though Nacha taught her all she knew, Tita surely took control of the kitchen. A great example of Tita’s magical emotions in food is when she is preparing the meringue icing for Rosaura’s weeding cake. She can't help herself but cry and cry that the color of the icing turned pink, but everyone who ate from the cake became sick to their stomach's throwing up. Yet, those same exact people had an immense uproar of nostalgia longing a love one. Another is when she made Quail in rose petal sauce but the rose petals where from Pedro. Through her feelings for him and the heat between Pedro watching her body sway as she cooks found its way in the food. It became an aphrodisiac to her sister Gertrudis who had such heat running through her body that she goes out to shower and Juan, a soldier see her. She runs butt naked to him and they ride off on his horse making love. Through food Tita became dominate and did things her way.
In The Book of J, Yahweh told “the man” (Adam) he can eat of any tree but the tree of knowing good and bad, yet Hava(Eve) partook of the fruit because the snake told her death will not touch her if she eats from it. She saw how “good” the tree looked and reached for it, ate, then gave to man. Yet, when Yahweh realized of their disobedience and that they knew they were naked he said to Hava that she would have "Pain increasing groans that spread into groans: having children will be labor. To man's body your belly will rise, for he will be eager above you." Now Hava ate out of curiosity and desired to gain wisdom out of the tree of knowing good and evil but one of the many results in tasting the fruit is her husband shall rule over her. Therefore, she lost her dominance or "equality" by food.
By comparing both Hava and Tita you see that both women in some way found themselves doing what they wanted in the end, either because the serpent beguiled Hava or because Tita no longer wanted to care what anyone else thought of her love for Pedro. Though cooking will always be Tita’s outlet, she learned to express her inner feelings in other means and finally stood up to her domineering mother. Also, Hava did gain a new perspective of life and new knowledge in things she did not know before. Their contradictions are even more evident because Tita found authority in the kitchen with making food; meanwhile Hava lost her dominion or “equality” by eating of the fruit. Both stories are good examples of various ways food can help one feel/become dominate or lose our dominance.
Reference
The Book of J. Trans. David Rosenberg. ED. Harold Bloom. New York: Grove, 1990.
Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. New York: Double Day, 1989.
In Like Water for Chocolate, Tita is a very likeable character that drives you with anticipation throughout the story, hoping she can finally be reunited with her long love Pedro, though he is married to her older sister Rosaura. Yet, what is so amazing and differentiates Tita from her sisters and other characters is not only her great cooking ability but that the emotions she undergoes before or while cooking in some way are instilled and stirred in the food while it is being cooked. She came out of the womb in that kitchen, on a table, surrounded by the smells of thyme, bay leaves, and cilantro and has made an identity for herself in that kitchen. Being the youngest of all sisters she was cursed with the tradition of never being able to marry because she would have to take care of Mama Elena. It’s no surprise Tita had to find a place to dominate and though Nacha taught her all she knew, Tita surely took control of the kitchen. A great example of Tita’s magical emotions in food is when she is preparing the meringue icing for Rosaura’s weeding cake. She can't help herself but cry and cry that the color of the icing turned pink, but everyone who ate from the cake became sick to their stomach's throwing up. Yet, those same exact people had an immense uproar of nostalgia longing a love one. Another is when she made Quail in rose petal sauce but the rose petals where from Pedro. Through her feelings for him and the heat between Pedro watching her body sway as she cooks found its way in the food. It became an aphrodisiac to her sister Gertrudis who had such heat running through her body that she goes out to shower and Juan, a soldier see her. She runs butt naked to him and they ride off on his horse making love. Through food Tita became dominate and did things her way.
In The Book of J, Yahweh told “the man” (Adam) he can eat of any tree but the tree of knowing good and bad, yet Hava(Eve) partook of the fruit because the snake told her death will not touch her if she eats from it. She saw how “good” the tree looked and reached for it, ate, then gave to man. Yet, when Yahweh realized of their disobedience and that they knew they were naked he said to Hava that she would have "Pain increasing groans that spread into groans: having children will be labor. To man's body your belly will rise, for he will be eager above you." Now Hava ate out of curiosity and desired to gain wisdom out of the tree of knowing good and evil but one of the many results in tasting the fruit is her husband shall rule over her. Therefore, she lost her dominance or "equality" by food.
By comparing both Hava and Tita you see that both women in some way found themselves doing what they wanted in the end, either because the serpent beguiled Hava or because Tita no longer wanted to care what anyone else thought of her love for Pedro. Though cooking will always be Tita’s outlet, she learned to express her inner feelings in other means and finally stood up to her domineering mother. Also, Hava did gain a new perspective of life and new knowledge in things she did not know before. Their contradictions are even more evident because Tita found authority in the kitchen with making food; meanwhile Hava lost her dominion or “equality” by eating of the fruit. Both stories are good examples of various ways food can help one feel/become dominate or lose our dominance.
Reference
The Book of J. Trans. David Rosenberg. ED. Harold Bloom. New York: Grove, 1990.
Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. New York: Double Day, 1989.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Erotic Chocolate?
When Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, lovebirds always seem to rely on a chocolate box of mouth watering arrays. This maybe because chocolate is a delicious morsel that symbolizes our love and admiration for another bundled in heart-shaped boxes or wrapping paper. Yet, for centuries, civilizations through out history have claimed to have discovered the secret to heighten sexual desire, chocolate. Researchers speculated how accurate this claim was and through numerous experiments still believe that the amounts of chemicals in chocolate are too small to have any measurable effect on our desire. Perhaps all the noise chocolate as an aphrodisiac has made though out history has really provoked people to truly believe it is one. Consequently, I wonder if when we give chocolate to our lovers, is it because we secretly want to unleash their “freaky side”, or because chocolate seems the easiest way to say “I love you”?
Chocolate is derived from the seeds in a cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao, identified by Linnaeus, a Swedish naturalist in the 17th century. Theobroma, in Greek, translates to “food of the Gods”. Ancient Aztec’s are the earliest known to utilize cocoa seeds into brewing a hot beverage with stimulant and restorative properties. The emperor Montezuma was alleged to consume the bean in copious amounts to augment his romantic trysts. Chocolate has been favored throughout time by many different people, ancient Aztecs to Popes to high society Victorians. Although Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 every year, it originated from the Roman celebration called Lupercalia, which was held on February 15, a fertility festival. Hence, it’s very evident how chocolate has found itself to be known as an aphrodisiac.
Chocolate contains approximately 380 known chemicals, with many of those being able to affect our brain causing the release of certain neurotransmitters. Happy neurotransmitters, like endorphins can help alleviate or reduce stress and lead to feelings of euphoria. Both Phenylethylamine and Serotonin are in chocolate which help increase our mood, though these hormones are naturally found in our brain. Serotonin is an anti-depressant chemical that works amid endorphins easing our pain and decreasing stress. When we savor our creamy delight, our level of endorphins increase, giving credence to why chocolate is also known as a comfort food. Phenylethylamine, known as the “love drug” is disputed where it is an amphetamine because it works like amphetamines to increase mood and also decrease depression. This chemical causes changes in our blood pressure giving us feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness, apprehension and euphoria, which also is released when we fall in love. “Phenylethylamine is a naturally occurring trace amine in the brain. Phenylethylamine releases dopamine in the mesolimbic pleasure-centres; it peaks during orgasm.” All these emotions are highly common when one feels like they are in love, or having a high sexual drive. Thus, combining phenylethylamine's ability to speed our heart rate, happy endorphins power to cause relaxation and other neurotransmitters launching pleasurable “highs” throughout the brain makes it understandable that chocolate was assumed to be an aphrodisiac.
One study reported that 91% of chocolate-cravings associated with the menstrual cycle occurred between ovulation and the start of menstruation. Some 50% of women reportedly claim to prefer chocolate to sex and 22% were more likely than men to choose chocolate as a mood elevator. Women who consumed chocolate daily reported a higher degree of sexual satisfaction. Interestingly enough, the director of Nigeria’s Federal Agency for Food and Medicine advised Nigerians to forego Viagra in favor of of eating chocolate. Therefore, it’s evident that even if no actual evidence has been proposed, maybe if you truly believe chocolate is an aphrodisiac, then it might just spice up your sex life.
Chocolate is the instant known “love booster”, giving us an automatic sweet taste in our mouths. Most of us buy chocolate for our beloveds simply because we’ve been told these Valentine’s Day confections send a message of love. Then again, we might give chocolate to someone we care about to stir up the same emotions in them as well. Nevertheless, researchers have stuck to their word on the amount of chemicals in chocolate being very slight to have such an affect. Yet, I believe that the brain is so vigorous that if we consider chocolate to sincerely be an aphrodisiac, then a little bit of magic might just occur, especially for woman. "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker." are Ogden Nash’s immortal words, except if you really do love your sweetheart, tell them it’s an aphrodisiac, and a box of chocolates might just do.
Chocolate is derived from the seeds in a cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao, identified by Linnaeus, a Swedish naturalist in the 17th century. Theobroma, in Greek, translates to “food of the Gods”. Ancient Aztec’s are the earliest known to utilize cocoa seeds into brewing a hot beverage with stimulant and restorative properties. The emperor Montezuma was alleged to consume the bean in copious amounts to augment his romantic trysts. Chocolate has been favored throughout time by many different people, ancient Aztecs to Popes to high society Victorians. Although Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 every year, it originated from the Roman celebration called Lupercalia, which was held on February 15, a fertility festival. Hence, it’s very evident how chocolate has found itself to be known as an aphrodisiac.
Chocolate contains approximately 380 known chemicals, with many of those being able to affect our brain causing the release of certain neurotransmitters. Happy neurotransmitters, like endorphins can help alleviate or reduce stress and lead to feelings of euphoria. Both Phenylethylamine and Serotonin are in chocolate which help increase our mood, though these hormones are naturally found in our brain. Serotonin is an anti-depressant chemical that works amid endorphins easing our pain and decreasing stress. When we savor our creamy delight, our level of endorphins increase, giving credence to why chocolate is also known as a comfort food. Phenylethylamine, known as the “love drug” is disputed where it is an amphetamine because it works like amphetamines to increase mood and also decrease depression. This chemical causes changes in our blood pressure giving us feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness, apprehension and euphoria, which also is released when we fall in love. “Phenylethylamine is a naturally occurring trace amine in the brain. Phenylethylamine releases dopamine in the mesolimbic pleasure-centres; it peaks during orgasm.” All these emotions are highly common when one feels like they are in love, or having a high sexual drive. Thus, combining phenylethylamine's ability to speed our heart rate, happy endorphins power to cause relaxation and other neurotransmitters launching pleasurable “highs” throughout the brain makes it understandable that chocolate was assumed to be an aphrodisiac.
One study reported that 91% of chocolate-cravings associated with the menstrual cycle occurred between ovulation and the start of menstruation. Some 50% of women reportedly claim to prefer chocolate to sex and 22% were more likely than men to choose chocolate as a mood elevator. Women who consumed chocolate daily reported a higher degree of sexual satisfaction. Interestingly enough, the director of Nigeria’s Federal Agency for Food and Medicine advised Nigerians to forego Viagra in favor of of eating chocolate. Therefore, it’s evident that even if no actual evidence has been proposed, maybe if you truly believe chocolate is an aphrodisiac, then it might just spice up your sex life.
Chocolate is the instant known “love booster”, giving us an automatic sweet taste in our mouths. Most of us buy chocolate for our beloveds simply because we’ve been told these Valentine’s Day confections send a message of love. Then again, we might give chocolate to someone we care about to stir up the same emotions in them as well. Nevertheless, researchers have stuck to their word on the amount of chemicals in chocolate being very slight to have such an affect. Yet, I believe that the brain is so vigorous that if we consider chocolate to sincerely be an aphrodisiac, then a little bit of magic might just occur, especially for woman. "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker." are Ogden Nash’s immortal words, except if you really do love your sweetheart, tell them it’s an aphrodisiac, and a box of chocolates might just do.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Erma Bombeck said, “I am not a glutton- I am an explorer of food”, and thank the heavens for her because I have just found my alibi. Food in my life has been my clutch, my back bone, and the shoulder that will let me eat a plate off of. It is one of my vital pleadings to God...."please, heavenly father, let there be food in heaven", and though i endeavor to be sincere, it is inevitable not to catch a smile and envision the most impeccable feast my eyes could ever behold. I imagine a galore of savory desserts, with the best delicacy’s from every country, to those simple but essential snacks we can’t live without. Hence, it’s quite frank that food is my comfort but just like in Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel, food also unleashes an overflowing flood of embarrassing-hilarious-imperfectly perfect memories. Memories which in some way or the other have crafted and shaped me into who I am today. I have a terrible obsession with quotes, I know I need an intervention but something funny i came across was "An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a vegetable invented to make them laugh."-Will Rogers. I paused for a second raised my brow and did the hmmm face contemplating his theory. Yet I realized that even though a specific vegetable has not been intended to make one laugh, vegetables or food in general have brought a great deal of laughter and happiness by bringing together family’s on holidays or simply to share great food and conversation.
I believe that food in literature can be one million times infinity possibilities. It can be whatever fantasy or figment is composed up in the writer’s crafty brain. What astounds me to a great extent is the fact that food equals immortality. This is true because some recipes clutch and grip traditions from generations long ago which still continue to be passed down today. Also, the whole cycle of life with food being a necessity for survival and keeping humanity going by rearing children and all those interesting theories and facts. Yet, what caught my eye was I love to write simply because I feel that is where my immortality lies. Just imagining someone reading my words while I’m decaying 6 feet under is surreal; the mere thought fills me with an unexplainable bliss. Then I thought hmmm... I love to eat immensely amid writing and probably one of the great reasons I love to eat as much is the same as writing-immortality. Therefore, I have concluded that the emotion of ‘immortality” I feel is a brilliant hope, this silver lining of optimism. In the great words of Garfield, “"Diet is die with a 't."”, so no on diets for me because I’ll hunger the greatest poverty and have my flame of hope and happiness blown out. Thus, I’ll keep my flame lit with scrumptious food and insightful writing and live an equilibrium of harmony.
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