Who is Mama Elena?

Mama Elena is a central character in Laura Esquivel's novel "Like Water for Chocolate." She is the matriarch of the De la Garza family and embodies traditional Mexican values, particularly those related to family duty and cultural customs. Her strict enforcement of family traditions significantly impacts the lives and relationships of her daughters, especially Tita, who struggles against her mother's authoritarian control. Mama Elena's character symbolizes the clash between tradition and personal freedom throughout the story.