Harvard University
Like Water for ChocolateHarvard University enters the story as the destination of Alex Brown’s doctoral study, and the grant that takes him there also marks a decisive change in Esperanza’s life after her wedding.
Alex Brown’s Doctoral Study
Alex Brown has won a grant to pursue a doctorate at Harvard University. The account provides no further details about the institution; its significance here is the opportunity it represents for the newly married couple.
Departure After the Wedding
Alex and Esperanza are due to leave for Harvard University on the day of their wedding. Their departure turns the marriage into a separation from the household they are leaving behind, rather than simply a celebration within it.
Role in the Family’s Future
The news prompts Paquita to ask Tita what she will do without Esperanza in the house, linking Alex’s academic opportunity to a change in Tita’s domestic life with Pedro. Harvard University remains offstage, but its place in the couple’s plans gives the wedding an immediate consequence: Esperanza and Alex begin their married life elsewhere.
