Marialy Armendariz

Mr.Cook
ELA 3&4
January 26, 2015
Act One- How does language/slang develop the characters?
In the play Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez slang is being used in most of the characters to create
a gangster image of them.
Henry, the main character, uses slang throughout the book. When Henry is talking with
his friends he sounds like a thug. Henry says, Where the hell you been, ese? (Valdez 29) Henry
is not very formal when he is speaking to Pachuco. His slang in this quote makes Henry seem
more gangster. Henry also says, Just me and you, cabron. Thats my carnalillo you started
pushing around, see? And nobody chinga con mi familia without answering to me, ese(Valdez
46). When Henry is getting in a fight with 38th street gang he is not speaking professional.
Henrys language creates an interesting reaction because we get more into the book as more
slang is being used.
Another character that uses slang throughout the book is Joey. Joey says Nel, este bolillo
no sabe nada (Valdez 42). Joey creates tension when he talks gangster because we get more
entertained. Joey also says, That pinche Rafas is yellow without his gang, ese(Valdez 46). Joey
creates a suspenseful tone when he uses slang to talk with his friends. When we read Joeys lines
we get an image of a guy who is not formal but a thug. If the slang wouldn't be used, we would
picture the characters in our head very different.
Both, Henry and Joey, use slang to express who they are. Not only them, but also many
other characters from Zoot Suit use slang in the play. The language in the play develops the

characters by making them more unstudied. Its as if they did not go to school because their slang
sounds very unprofessional and makes people think he is in a gang. Not only the slang makes
them seem gangster but also the zoot suits they use changes the way we see them. Tommy says
Zoot-suited goons! I knew it was coming. Every time the D.A. farts, they throw us in the can
(Valdez 39). The police is prejudice against the chicanos in the play because of their slang and
mainly the zoot suits they use making them believe they have been involved in conflict.
Pachuco:
Que le watcha a mis trapos, ese?
Sabe que carnal?
Estas garras me las plante porque vamos a dejarnos caer un play, sabe?
(He crosses to center stage, models his clothes) (Valdez 25).
Pachuco is speaking with slang and he is trying to say in these lines that he is wearing the zoot
suit. The language in the play develops the way we see the characters.