Quinn McNamara
English 1010 F 9:00-12:00
Professor McKeever
5 November 2012
Word Count: 2,429
Zorro as an Allusion
Zorro is a masked hero created in Hollywood, who appeared in films from
1930-1960’s. He first appeared on a comic strip in 1919. His identity is Don
Diego de la Vega who is part of a wealthy Hispanic family, but who’s identity
remains a secret due to his disguise as Zorro. His purpose of Zorro is to
protect the weak and innocent from oppressors and right the wrongs. His
signature mark was cutting a “Z” on his enemy’s body or clothes. An example
where Zorro is used as an allusion is in Jonathon Kellerman’s Devil’s
Waltz, 1993. Milo knocked softly just before midnight. He was carrying a
hard-shell case the size of an attaché and had on a polo shirt, twill pants, and
windbreaker. All in black. Regular-guy parody of the LA. hipster ensemble. I
said, 'Trying to fade into the night, Zorro?' (qtd. In Delahunty, Dignen and
Stock 63) This phrase “Trying to fade into the night, Zorro?” is referring to
Milo wearing all black which is Zorro’s costume color, thus making Milo look
mysterious like Zorro. So the allusion made by the author using Zorro, is due to
Milo wearing all black like Zorro and the mysteriousness of him wearing all
black at night.
Works Cited
Delahunty, Andrew, Sheila Dignen and Penny Stock. “Zorro” The
Oxford Dictionary of Allusions. New York: Oxford UP, 2001. Print
English 1010 F 9:00-12:00
Professor McKeever
5 November 2012
Word Count: 2,429
Zorro as an Allusion
Zorro is a masked hero created in Hollywood, who appeared in films from
1930-1960’s. He first appeared on a comic strip in 1919. His identity is Don
Diego de la Vega who is part of a wealthy Hispanic family, but who’s identity
remains a secret due to his disguise as Zorro. His purpose of Zorro is to
protect the weak and innocent from oppressors and right the wrongs. His
signature mark was cutting a “Z” on his enemy’s body or clothes. An example
where Zorro is used as an allusion is in Jonathon Kellerman’s Devil’s
Waltz, 1993. Milo knocked softly just before midnight. He was carrying a
hard-shell case the size of an attaché and had on a polo shirt, twill pants, and
windbreaker. All in black. Regular-guy parody of the LA. hipster ensemble. I
said, 'Trying to fade into the night, Zorro?' (qtd. In Delahunty, Dignen and
Stock 63) This phrase “Trying to fade into the night, Zorro?” is referring to
Milo wearing all black which is Zorro’s costume color, thus making Milo look
mysterious like Zorro. So the allusion made by the author using Zorro, is due to
Milo wearing all black like Zorro and the mysteriousness of him wearing all
black at night.
Works Cited
Delahunty, Andrew, Sheila Dignen and Penny Stock. “Zorro” The
Oxford Dictionary of Allusions. New York: Oxford UP, 2001. Print