Irma Valenzuela

Mr.Cook
ELA
January 27, 2015

What are the central conflicts and social issues in the play?

The central conflict of Zoot Suit is Henry stereotyping and being stereotyped.

The first conflict appears when Henry stereotypes George because he is an

Anglo. When George and Henry met in jail, the dialogue shows a
stereotype, saying,
HENRY. Ponganse al alba. Este me huele a chota.
GEORGE. The question is, Henry will you trust me ?
HENRY. Why should I ? Youre a gringo. (43)
Henry is stereotyping George because he is a white man, this creates a
conflict between Henry and George because Henry does not realize that
George is only trying to help him get out of jail quicker.

Henry is forming a conflict when he begins to stereotype Alice because she is

a white woman with money. When Henry and Alice met for the trial case, the
dialogue shows a stereotype, saying,

HENRY. Why didnt you ask me ? You think you can just move in and
defend anybody you feel like ? When did I ever ask you to start a
defense committee for me ? Or a newspaper ? Or a fundraising drive
and all that other shit ? I dont need defending, esa. I can take care of
myself.
ALICE. You think youre the only one who doesn't want to be bothered ?
They're coming at me from all sides. Youre too sentimental and
emotional about this, Alice. Youre too cold hearted, Alice. Youre
collecting money and handing it over to the lawyers, while the families
are going hungry. Theyre saying you cant be trusted because youre a
communist, because youre a jew. Okay ! If thats the way they feel
about me, then to hell with them! I hate them too. I hate their
language, I hate their enchiladas, and I hate their goddamned mariachi
music!
Henry is stereotyping Alice because he does not believe that she is willing to
help him and the 38th gang get out of prison, this establishes a conflict
between Henry and Alice because Alice is just another person, like George,
that only wants the best for Henry and the 38th gang. Henry needs to realize
that Alice and George are humans and they do not deserve to be placed
under a stereotype.

The press is generating a conflict between the way society views the
Chicanos. The press stereotypes the Chicanos to be a bad influence and
dangerous to the community.

PRESS. Set these pachucos free, and you shall unleash the forces of anarchy
and destruction in our society. Set these pachucos free and you will turn
them into heroes... Henry Reyna and his Latin juvenile cohorts are not
heroes. They are criminals, and they must be stopped. The specific details of
this murder are irrelevant before the overwhelming danger of the pachuco in
our midst. I ask you to find these zoot-suited gangsters guilty of murder and
put them in the gas chamber where they belong.
PRESS. Your honor, there is testimony we expect to develop that the 38th
street gang are characterized by their style of haircuts the thick heavy heads
of hair, the ducktail comb, the pachuco pants.
The way the press expresses about these Pachuco gang members is showing
that he has a bias on them, placing them in this stereotype of being
immature and a bad influence within the community of Los Angeles.