Emotions and Food in Joanne Harris's Chocolate (2015) and Laura Esquivel,s Like Water for Chocolate (1989): A Psychological Study

This dissertation compares the centrality of food to the human experience, as shown in the two novels. This article contains a synopsis of two fictional female protagonists, Vianne, and Tita. The first heroine travels with her daughter to a quaint town and opens a chocolate shop. While traveling, she uses her culinary and magical skills to improve the lives of the people she meets. Tita, our second heroine, is the youngest of her family and is, therefore, unable to marry her true love. She has no choice but to tend to Mama Elena until the end of her life. Pedro, her secret lover whom Tita's mother refused their marriage, decided to wed her sister Rosaura so that he could be near Tita. Most of the action occurs in the kitchen as the protagonist imagines preparing various dishes. Once again, preparing food serves as a fundamental metaphor for the characters' inner states of mind. Both books belong to a literary genre known as "magical realism," This article uses this style to convey its central message: the protagonist's journey to serve others and delight their spirits via a combination of Chocolate and the supernatural powers of cocoa. The other work, "Like Water for Chocolate," depicts the goal through the female characters' stories, which were influenced by tales passed down from the protagonist's mother and other women in her life, demonstrating how food is a symbolic depiction of emotions. A simple meal cooked and eaten presents layers of history, culture, and personal experience.