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The movie Zoot Suit is a film that takes place in Los Angeles California, in 1942 during WWII. It explores
both the physical and psychological struggles the main character, and leader of the 38th Street Gang, Henry (Hank)
Reyna has when he and his close friends are being wrongfully accused and later charged for the crime of killing a
man. Hank’s character has a great sense of pride and is more often than not a pawn to his “machismo” conscious.
Hank struggles with his conscious throughout the movie and often times gives into his pride. Although, his
conscious seems to encourage Hank to do what is convenient and pleasurable to Hank and Hank alone.
Contradictory speaking his conscious also becomes his voice of reason in hard times and bad situations. This is
displayed in the movie when Hank is involved in the first fight among a few rival gang members. Hank is in a brawl
when he reaches for his knife instantly, his voice of reason, talks him down, into using his weapon. Another is when
Hank is in solitary confinement and Hank is close to his wits end, when his conscious appears to him and
encourages him by using a reverse psychology type of approach. The Chicano pride Hank displays throughout the
movie is one that I believe we all obtain at different degrees. There isn’t anything wrong with having pride of your
