Themes: Cruelty and Violence
Mama Elena often uses harshness and aggression to ensure Tita's compliance. The tasks she assigns to Tita, especially those concerning Pedro and Rosaura's wedding, are acts of sheer cruelty, considering Tita's heartache over losing Pedro. Mama Elena reacts to Tita's slightest objections with furious outbursts and physical violence. For instance, when she suspects Tita of deliberately ruining the wedding cake, she punishes her with a beating. When Tita confronts her mother and blames her for Roberto's death, Mama Elena hits her with a wooden spoon, breaking her nose. This regular cruelty is not considered unusual in a place where a widow must defend herself and her family from bandits and revolutionaries.
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