Scene 7

Alice visits Henry, but he doesn’t welcome her with his arms wide open. As soon as he sees her he starts to question her loyalty why she is helping him and the rest of the gang. I didn’t like this scene very much because of Henry’s reaction toward Alice. He was in the right to know why Alice wanted to help but he didn’t have to get it out of her that way. Screaming and demanding an answer from her.
The quote on page 84, “Stop it Henry! Please stop it! ... I never have been able to accept one person pushing another around… because I’m a Jew, god dammit! I have been there…I have been there! If you lose, I lose.”
This quote demonstrates to us why Alice helps Henry out and her attitude towards the whole idea of zoot suiters. Since the start of the play I don’t know why Alice allies with the Pachucos but in the scene I understand. Alice is trying to help Henry out of the same situation she found herself in at the time (across seas). When Alice tells Henry that she is a Jew he sees why the appeal is so important to her why she needs him to help her win this.

In these past scenes we see that Alice and Henry are getting emotionally involved with each other. So it comes to no surprise that they end up kissing in this scene. But I don’t think this relationship would last long because Henry is just lonely comfort from someone it did not matter who at the time.

Question: Why did Alice not tell Henry her reason for helping him? Why did she take so long to tell him?