Symbolisms in the Play, Zoot Suit

In the play Zoot Suit, the zoot suit is has many overt and covert symbolisms. The Mexican Americans that wore them see it one way, and their elders and family member another. The police saw it in a completely different way, and even the sailors saw it another. In this section we will analyze how the play portrays the zoot suit. To the Mexican American that wore zoot suits, it was a symbol of pride. Putting on a zoot suit “…MAKES YOU FEEL REAL ROOT LOOK LIKE A DIAMOND, SPARKLING, SHINING…” (Zoot Suit 1.1.3). The zoot suit empowered its wearer, giving them a feeling of bravado and power. The elders of the youths did not think so well of zoot suits. Henry’s father, Enrique, says to Rudy “Hijo, don’t go out like that. Por favor. You look like an idiot, pendejo” (Zoot Suit 1.4.123). Rudy is just starting to wear the zoot suit fashion, but to his parents it is a symbol of childish rebellion. There had clearly been many arguments about it, “I know what mi ‘apa said, ‘ama. I’m going to wear [the zoot suit] anyway” (Zoot Suit 1.4.55). Despite what the parents say, they continue to wear the zoot suits. Police officers and the press saw it as a symbol of crime, gangster activity, worn by pachucos (punks to the police). After the mass arrests, Sergeant Smith shows his disdain of their bravado by saying “You pachucos are regular tough guys” (Zoot Suit 1.3.1). Sergeant Smith is sarcastically calling pachucos tough guys, showing that zoot suits symbolize what he considers is weak. In the next scene, Sergeant Smith states zooters lack discipline and hide behind the zoot suits. “I hear tell you pachucos wear these monkey suits as a kind of armor. Is that right? How’s it work? This is what you zooters need—a little old-fashioned discipline” (Zoot Suit 1.4.41). The Press also adds to zoots suits symbolizing crime, “ZOOT-SUITED GOONS OF SLEEPY LAGOON” (Zoot Suit 1.5.15) and comments such as “The Zoot Suit Crime Wave is even beginning to push the war news off the