Introduction
The “Los Vendidos,” play by Luis Valdez, is a magnificent blithe play that is full of paradox, sarcasm, ridicule, and humor to describe the status of the Mexican Americans in finding their identity within the realms of America. It is a play that sends a message about the paradox of American government needing the Mexican Americans, and how it does not return the support that the latter need. The purpose of sarcasm, ridicule, and humor in the play is to highlight the different marks and stereotypes of both White Americans and Mexican Americans. There are several stereotypical characters in the play. Huerta states: every representation possesses an exclusive cultural account, individualism and societal standpoint (276). One of such characters is Johnny Pachuco.
In Los Vendidos by Luiz Valdez, Johnny Pachuco is the stereotype of the Mexican society villain – a menace to the society. He is “a burglar and rose for speed, knife battles and urban life.” Pachuco represents a member of a gang who is aggressive, disrespectful, and drug-abusing, although ideal to maltreatment and a painless fall guy (Matus, 2). These characteristics manifest when Honest Sancho engages with Miss Jimenez, causing the latter to reject the model for Pachuco.
Discussion
Not all Mexicans come to America in peace. Mexican Americans, just like any other race are usually a victim of stereotyping. In the US such is most rampant to the “colored” race such the Mexicans who migrate to the said country for sustenance. They, however, accomplish such purpose in different ways. While others enter the US soil as worker, particularly, farm workers, others resort to unlawful acts. Such is Johnny Pachuco. “Anything and everything necessary for city life. For instance, survival: he knife fights,” is the exact statement of Honest Sancho when Miss Jimenez asks him what the Panucho model does (Valdez, 45). Johnny Pachuco, being a gangster Mexican, falls in conflict with the laws and regulations of the society; thus he resists them. Pachuco utilizes weapons and pilfers in order to get what he wants. It is because of this that he receives a lot of beating from the cops. Pachuco is therefore, the stereotype of Mexican American robbers who commit multiple instances of offence against the law of the land. Valdez explains, “He gets arrested, but not without resisting, of course” (Valdez 45)
Pachuco is everything that is bad in Mexico. Pachuco symbolizes the label of a city-Mexican as a slothful and sluggish gangster. Despite the fact that he is bilingual, Pachucho resort to aggression and illegal remedies. He commits fraud rather and manages to survive on express rations (Matus, 2). In Sancho’s description to Pachucho as “Economical,” Sancho says, “Nickels and dimes. You can keep Johnny running on hamburgers, Taco Bell tacos, Lucky Lager beer, Thunderbird wine, yesca” (Valdez, 45). Pachuco uses drugs - he smoke marijuana. During instances that he does not have a supply, he uses glue instead (Valdez, 45). Pachuco is also the Mexican personality which Americans dread the most because he is an individual they judge that will harm them most likely (Cummings, 329). Johnny Pachuco is the formulaic, conventional Mexican hooligan. He is the kind that brings weapons into play and embezzles from people. He resists the law that is why he frequently gets arrested. Moreover, he uses drugs, smokes not just marijuana, but also glue in times when he lacks supply just to get high. In the play “Los Vendidos,” the characteristics of the Pachuco mentioned by Sancho are in opposition to the bylaw with the intention that Miss Jimenez discards him.
Pachuco is the reason some Americans are slothful of the Mexicans. Nevertheless, Pachuco is American-made. Americans turn out to fear this stereotype. Mexicans who reside in America are mainly being discriminated. Americans consider Mexicans as substandard citizens, so most of them – the Mexicans – became criminals. They also think that the kinds of Pachuco are the ones that harm them and these causes prejudgment of Mexicans within America (Salesa 1). In my opinion, the purpose of the author for giving “Johnny” as the first name for Pachuco is to imply the fact that it is the American’s way of treating Mexican’s which leads to the creation of the “Pachuco stereotype.” In other words, Johnny Pachuco is what you get when American bigotry towards the Mexicans. Note that a large portion of the US was just stolen from the Mexicans during the Mexican-American war. So here are two robbers showing contempt towards each other.
Conclusion
Los Vendidos points numerous details about the treatment of the American society and the Mexicans’ response which lead to prejudice, and discriminations that allow the audiences’ to rethink about stereotypes. Pachuco’s case illustrates the effect of the American society’s discrimination towards Mexicans and the creation of Mexican’s defense – which is resorting to violence and criminal acts. The play illustrates the way Mexicans are treated in the community of Americans and is strengthened through the rejection of Miss Jimenez to each character – Pachuco being one them. This heavy message was alleviated by the humor in the play. It lightens the mood while giving sarcasm at the same time. Moreover, the play also tries to rid the fictitious typecast personality on the Mexican, which is untrue. It also accentuates the requirement of certainty and explanation behind stereotyping
Works Cited
Cummings, Laura. "Cloth-Wrapped People, Trouble, and Power: Pachuco Culture in the Greater Southwest". Journal of the Southwest 45.3 (2003): 329–48.
Douglas Matus, “An Analysis of the Characters in "Los Vendidos".” Demand Media. Seattle: Hearst Seattle Media, LLC, 2010.
Huerta, Jorge. “Chicano theater: themes and forms.” Bilingual Press, (1952): 274.
Selasa, Maret. “Los Vendidos The Themes Analysis of Los Vendidos” Ichiko’s World, March 2011. Web. 17 Dec 2010.
Sosnowski, Jana. “An Analysis of the Characters in "Los Vendidos".” Demand Media. Seattle: Hearst Seattle Media, LLC, 2010.
