Damaris Espinoza

1/26/15
ELA
MR.COOK

What are the central conflicts and issues in the play?

Zoot Suit by: Luis Valdez

The central conflicts and issues of the play are that all people make others fit
into their stereotypes no matter their race.

The first character that fits peoples stereotypes (especially the police) is Henry
Reyna. He is the zoot suit leader of the 38th gang, all more so all the white people have
stereotypes about him, even his conscience, pachuco, his best friend and worst enemy.
PACHUCO: Just because the dumb broad says so?

HENRY: Nel, ese, just because Hank Reyna says so.

PACHUCO: The classic social victim, eh? (51)

This confirms that Hank Reyna is seen as a social victim because of the false
accusation of murder. Even though Henry does not fit into that stereotype, people frame
him into that picture, including pachuco.

After that, even the own Hank Reyna has stereotypes about others, mostly
toward white men and this will affect him.

GEORGE: Henry, will you trust me?

HENRY: Why should I? Youre a gringo. (43)

George is white, and Henry does not trust him because of that. His stereotypes are
stronger than him, and thinks all paddys are racist cops that only try send zoot
suitersto prison. In defiance of that, George is white he honestly wants to help them.

Aside from that, everybody has a stereotype for all who wear a zoot suit: They
are all trouble making gangsters. At the Williams Ranch they saw us coming and
thought we were the Downey Gang coming back again...They attacked us. (57)
Both Downey Gang and Henrys Gang wear zoot suits and them get framed in the same
picture because of their clothes style. For this they are all given the same bad
consequences like the chucos that are really trouble makers.