Like Water for Chocolate
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1: January Chapter 2: February Chapter 3: March Chapter 4: April Chapter 5: May Chapter 6: June Chapter 7: July Chapter 8: August Chapter 9: September Chapter 10: October Chapter 11: November Chapter 12: December
Themes
All Themes Tradition vs. Revolution Femininity and Women’s Roles Love Emotion and Repression Food and Cooking Violence and Abuse
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Tita de la Garza Mama Elena (Elena de la Garza) Rosaura Gertrudis Pedro Musquiz Esperanza Nacha Chencha Dr. John Brown Morning Light/ “The Old Indian Woman”/ “The Kikapu” Juan de la Garza Juan Alejandrez Jose Treviño Jesús Mama Elena’s mother Jovita
Symbols
All Symbols The Supernatural/ Magic/ Strange Events Heat and Fire Coldness/ Chills Tita’s Bedspread Crying/ Tears
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Like Water for Chocolate

by

Laura Esquivel
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Juan Alejandrez Character Analysis

Juan is a captain in the rebel army. He is the lover and later husband of Gertrudis. He first appears on horseback when he carries Gertrudis away to make love. He then leaves Gertrudis, unable to satisfy her endless sexual desire. The two are later reunited, and they quickly fall back in love and get married. Juan is the father of a few unnamed children with Gertrudis. He is musically gifted, openhearted, and occasionally jealous.

Juan Alejandrez Quotes in Like Water for Chocolate

The Like Water for Chocolate quotes below are all either spoken by Juan Alejandrez or refer to Juan Alejandrez. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Tradition vs. Revolution Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: May Quotes

I have a very good aim and a very bad temper, Captain. The next shot is for you, and I assure you that I can shoot you before they can kill me, so it would be best for us to respect each other. If we die, no one will miss me very much, but won’t the nation mourn your loss?

Related Characters: Mama Elena (Elena de la Garza) (speaker), Juan Alejandrez
Tradition vs. Revolution Theme Icon
Femininity and Women’s Roles Theme Icon
Violence and Abuse Theme Icon
Page Number: 90
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: July Quotes

He left because I had exhausted his strength, though he hadn’t managed to quench the fire inside me. Now at last, after so many men have been with me, I feel a great relief. Perhaps someday I will return home and explain it to you.

Related Characters: Gertrudis (speaker), Tita de la Garza, Juan Alejandrez
Related Symbols: Heat and Fire
Tradition vs. Revolution Theme Icon
Femininity and Women’s Roles Theme Icon
Emotion and Repression Theme Icon
Page Number: 126
Explanation and Analysis:
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Juan Alejandrez Quotes in Like Water for Chocolate

The Like Water for Chocolate quotes below are all either spoken by Juan Alejandrez or refer to Juan Alejandrez. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Tradition vs. Revolution Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: May Quotes

I have a very good aim and a very bad temper, Captain. The next shot is for you, and I assure you that I can shoot you before they can kill me, so it would be best for us to respect each other. If we die, no one will miss me very much, but won’t the nation mourn your loss?

Related Characters: Mama Elena (Elena de la Garza) (speaker), Juan Alejandrez
Tradition vs. Revolution Theme Icon
Femininity and Women’s Roles Theme Icon
Violence and Abuse Theme Icon
Page Number: 90
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: July Quotes

He left because I had exhausted his strength, though he hadn’t managed to quench the fire inside me. Now at last, after so many men have been with me, I feel a great relief. Perhaps someday I will return home and explain it to you.

Related Characters: Gertrudis (speaker), Tita de la Garza, Juan Alejandrez
Related Symbols: Heat and Fire
Tradition vs. Revolution Theme Icon
Femininity and Women’s Roles Theme Icon
Emotion and Repression Theme Icon
Page Number: 126
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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