Zoot Suit

by

Luis Valdez

Dolores Character Analysis

Dolores is Henry’s mother. A loving woman, she worries about the fact that police officers target Henry and his friends for wearing zoot suits, though she doesn’t stop Henry from dressing how he wants because she knows how much his clothing means to him. While Henry is in prison, Dolores and her husband, Enrique, take in Henry’s girlfriend, Della, because her parents kicked her out.
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Dolores Character Timeline in Zoot Suit

The timeline below shows where the character Dolores appears in Zoot Suit. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 4: The Interrogation
Racism, Nationalism, and Scapegoating Theme Icon
Self-Presentation and Cultural Identity Theme Icon
Public Perception and the Press Theme Icon
...as the stage lights shift to depict a domestic scene. In this scene, Henry’s mother, Dolores, hangs laundry (though instead of clothes, she drapes newspapers over a clothesline). As she calls... (full context)
Self-Presentation and Cultural Identity Theme Icon
Dolores points out to Henry that, though he and his friends like zoot suits, the police... (full context)
Act 2, Scene 9: Return to the Barrio
Racism, Nationalism, and Scapegoating Theme Icon
Public Perception and the Press Theme Icon
Advocates vs. Saviors Theme Icon
...and the other members of the 38th Street Gang, all of whom have come to Dolores and Enrique’s house for a celebration. Rudy tells Henry that he came home from Hawaii... (full context)
Racism, Nationalism, and Scapegoating Theme Icon
...either forget about him or move out, so she came to live with Enrique and Dolores. Della then tells Henry that she thinks his parents expect them to get married, and... (full context)
Racism, Nationalism, and Scapegoating Theme Icon
...and away from the 38th Street Gang. Enrique tells Henry to focus on his family. Dolores tells Henry to forget about zoot suits. And Della asks Henry what he wants. Shouting... (full context)
Racism, Nationalism, and Scapegoating Theme Icon
Advocates vs. Saviors Theme Icon
...dynamic. Seeing his tension, Della approaches him and takes him in her arms, and then Dolores, Lupe, and Rudy encircle them in a large group hug.  (full context)