Zoot Suit Article Analysis

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In the article on the play Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez, it is noticeable how the author highlighted major plot points that were based on the true events and can be found throughout the play. Although it is a play written by Luis Valdez, it gives the audience a new point of view on the matters. The audience is the one who plays a fundamental role in the story, breaking down the reality of the plot lived by the characters in this story. This allows the audience to identify themselves with them and the setting as a Chicano, which was the intended purpose of the author for this. This article connects the points in the play that were a significant sign and, basically, warning for Chicanos during those times. They had a great dilemma of whether to fight in the army as patriots of this country, or remain home and not get involved in a fight that didn’t concern them. Ashley Lucas, author of the article, offers an extensive and more detailed explanation as to what Valdez had wanted to portray using this play. Ashley Lucas breaks down the play into parts and analyzes each part according to its purpose in the play and for the audience’s way of thinking. She goes to explain how, when the assassination occurred, it was a crucial decision and action that had to be taken. If the gang members were caught, even if they didn’t do anything, they would be discriminated just for being Chicanos. This would seem, according to Lucas, that the media took part when it came to giving Chicanos, or Mexican Americans, a bad name. This meant that if any of them would get involved in a crime or seemed they did, then they would have no backup or support from the citizens, the law, or anyone. If they were ever caught in a bad act, they would stand alone but, even if they were scared, had to keep with the Chicano image. This is what Valdez was trying to show, according to Lucas. That it did not seem

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