Los Vendidos Discussion Questions

1. Do you find the play dated? Offensive? Entertaining? Explain your reactions.
2. Do you think Valdez's aim is to make his audience uncomfortable? Why or why not?
3. The phrase "theatre as a weapon" is often used to describe Valdez's play. Do you think it is an effective weapon?

From the beginning of the story the audience is able to tell that the play is not up to date because the secretary, Miss Jimenez, mentions that she is shopping for the perfect “Americanized” male model to represent the Reagan administration. Unfortunately I do not find the play offensive because the ways Mexicans are portrayed in the play is the way Mexicans are in reality. It is entertaining in a way because I find it quite amusing that the Mexicans scam Miss Jimenez out of $15,000 dollars. It amuses me because I see and feel that Mexicans in America try to do anything to make a quick buck such as selling stolen good.

I do not think Valdez was trying to make his audience uncomfortable, but I feel that he was trying to prove that Mexicans are as smart and witty as regular people in America. He shows the audience this by showing that Mexicans are smart and capable of coming up with intelligent schemes, which proves that Mexicans can do anything/everything like normal Americans. Despite how Mexican’s outer appearances might seem.

I think that “theatre as a weapon” is an effective weapon because Valdez is extremely good at getting his point through play by using his characters in a creative and unique way.