Mika Vigil

Mr. Cook
Honors ELA
1/27/15

Zoot Suit
The characters attitudes drive the conflicts in several ways. Henry, who is the
main character and the leader of the 38th street gang, has an attitude that is loyal and responsible.
Hes always looking out for someone he loves. Just me and you, cabron. Thats my carnalillo
you started pushing around, see? And nobody chinga con mi familia without answering to me,
ese! Hank Reyna! (46) Henrys attitude is loyal towards anyone he associates with and calls
family. This drives conflict because along with being loyal, this means that he is stubborn as
well. Being a stubborn person means that he wont give up until he is satisfied. Being the leader
of the 38th gang, he drives conflict with the Downey gang by finding some subtle detail to fight
about. In the fight scene with Rafa, he finds a reason to fight and protect his gang by stating that
no one chinga con mi familia .
The attitudes of Joey, Smiley and Tommy attribute to the conflict between the 38th street
gang and the trial in court by having an internalized conflict with themselves. During the trial,
they slump down into their chairs, become distracted by small details and arent paying attention
to the discussion going on in the court room.
HENRY:(under his breath) Come on, batos, sit up.
SMILEY: Were tired, Hank.
JOEY: My butt is sore.
TOMMY: Yeah, look at the soft chairs the jurys got. (54)

The boys complain about the comfort of the chairs and are nonchalant about the whole situation,
not considering the risks unprofessionalism has on their trial and jail time. They are also jealous
about how the jury has seats that are much more comfortable than theirs. Despite them being
nonchalant and misinformed about the trial, they acknowledge the fact that they are being
oppressed. This attributes to the conflict between Anglos and Chicanos because the point of
oppressing the Pachucos is to make them weak, and have less motivation to fight against what is
oppressing them. Making the oppressed weak is one of the greatest achievements an oppressor
can have. Joey, Smiley and Tommy refuse to be ignorant about being oppressed, by simply
stating the differences between the jurys chairs and their own.
The attitudes of Henry and Rafas attribute to the conflict of gang vs. gang by going
against their own people.
RAFAS: Its a barrio dance, ese. Were from the barrio.
HENRY: Youre from Downey.
RAFAS: Vale Madre. Downey Rifa!
DOWNEY GANG: SIMON!
RAFAS: What are you going to do about it? (46)
Gang vs. gang conflict should not be an issue. Sure, one group of people may have grown up on
the other side of town, but in reality, two groups of humans who have experienced hardship and
oppression should not be against one another. In the animal world, fighting for territory comes
naturally and is used to control population, protection from foreign diseases, and proving
dominance. When two gangs fight, they are proving to the cops and the Anglo population that
they are fulfilling a stereotype. Forget it, Lieutenant. You cant treat these animals like
people.(32) Consequently, conflict is present. The cops, along with the Anglo population say

that they are acting like animals, and the Pachucos are in denial that they are living up to the selffulfilling prophecy. They fight against the truth, and refuse to accept their actions and correct
their wrongdoings. It only causes conflict with each other and within themselves.
Conflict between male and female is present when Della tries to Protect Henry
against fighting the Downey gang at Sleepy lagoon.
HENRY: You stay here, Della.
DELLA: Henry no! Dont go down there! Please dont go down there!
HENRY: Cant you hear what theyre doing to my car?
DELLA: Theres too many of them. Theyll kill you!
HENRY: Chale! (56)
Della doubts Henrys choices to fight the Downey gang because she doesnt want him to get in
trouble or hurt himself. She is looking out for him, but to Henry, he sees this as preventing him
from what he does best: protect whats important to him and defend his gang. This also gives the
reader an idea of how gender roles impacted conflict. Male vs. female conflict arises because
although Henry wants to do everything possible to make Della happy, he also wants to do what it
takes to protect his gang and be superior to the Downey gang. There is a conflict inside of a
conflict which takes place in Henrys mind. He wants to be a part of the Pachuco lifestyle so
badly, but he doesnt want to abandon the part of him that benefits others.
Conflict is fueled by an infinite source. The attitudes of one person or a group of people
determines the outcome of a specific conflict. Whether a person chooses to address their faults or
not, is entirely up to them, however conflict will continue to be pursued if ignorance is present.

Works cited for Zoot suit

Valdez, Luis. Zoot Suit and other plays. Houston, Texas : Arte Publico Press, 1992, University of
Houston.