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:
).
Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Anchor Books edition of Like Water for Chocolate published in 1995.
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
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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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
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Juan Alejandrez Character Timeline in Like Water for Chocolate
The timeline below shows where the character Juan Alejandrez appears in Like Water for Chocolate. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3: March – “Quail in Rose Petal Sauce”
...then magically travels far away to a battleground where federal and rebel troops are fighting. Juan Alejandrez, the captain Gertrudis saw in the village, abandons his troop to run after the...
(full context)
Chapter 5: May – “Northern Style Chorizo”
...the other died. He replies with sincere sadness. Unbeknownst to Mama Elena, the captain is Juan Alejandrez, the man who ran away with Gertrudis. The men kill and take all the...
(full context)
Chapter 9: September – “Chocolate and Three Kings’ Day Bread”
...troop arrives. They are led by Gertrudis, who has become a general, and her husband Juan Alejandrez. Gertrudis says she knows that today is the day Tita makes the chocolate and...
(full context)
...army and fought her way through the ranks to become a general. She reunited with Juan, and they married. Gertrudis is sad to hear of Mama Elena’s death, as she was...
(full context)
Chapter 10: October – “Cream Fritters”
...raping his mother and sister. Treviño remained dedicated to Gertrudis, even after her marriage to Juan Alejandrez. Terrified of disappointing her, he struggles to make the syrup, which they proudly bring...
(full context)
Tita hears Pedro drunkenly singing to her from outside, accompanied by Juan on the guitar. Tita panics, worried Rosaura will hear. The ghost of Mama Elena appears,...
(full context)
The next day, Gertrudis, Tita, and Juan share a warm goodbye as the troop leaves to attack Zacatecas. Gertrudis gives Tita advice...
(full context)
Chapter 12: December: “Chiles in Walnut Sauce.”
On the day of the wedding, everyone is impressed when Gertrudis and Juan pull up in a Model T ford coupe. They are sporting the latest trends, with...
(full context)
