SimilaritiesofTwoFamousTalesofLove In one of the most famous
love stories of this century, many elements from anotherfamous tale of
love were borrowed. In many instances, Westside Story mirrored
Shakespeare'sRomeo And Juliet. Many similarities were noted from the
characterization to the plot structure.However, they differed as well.In
Westside Story, some characters shared personalities with those of
Romeo And Juliet.The families of the Capulets and Montagues were well
represented by two gangs, the Sharks andthe Jets. Both being
ineffective rulers, officer Krumpke and the Prince struggle to keep peace
if their cities both to no avail and warned," If you disturb our streets again,
your lives shall pay theforfeit of peace."( ) . Due to their differing
backgrounds, Tony being affiliated with the Jets and Maria with the
Sharks, Tony and Maria partook in forbidden love much like Romeo
andJuliet. Much like Tybalt, Bernado disapproved of their love and was
quick to fight with anymember of the Jets or Tony. However, Anita,
Bernardo's girlfriend, approved of their love because she just wanted to
see Maria happy like the Nurse. Overwhelmed by all the fighting, Baby
John was much like Tybalt's peace keeping foil character, Mercutio.
Lastly, Doc tried to help Tony and stop all the insanity around him like
Friar Laurence. In both stories, comic relief occurred to keep the
audience interested, but the two plays usually differed in their approaches
to comedy. In Romeo And Juliet, Mercutio amused the audience with his
actions and soliloquies. Westside Story didn't have a character like
Mercutio, so it used a combination of their dance and characters for
comic relief. The Jets performed a humorous song that mocked Officer
Krumpke. Also, to enliven the audience, The Jets always picked on
Anybodys, a scruffy looking girl who always tried to get in the gang.
Depsite those different approaches for comedy, Westside Story
immitated Mercutio and other Montagues' scene with the Nurse, taunting
her and exclaimimg, " hide her face; for her fan's the fairer ofthe two " (
), when Anita went to Doc's,and they mocked her saying so this
what a P.R. woman looks like and tossing her around.The settings from
these plays did not differ much at all. Tony and Maria had to hide their
love from their families to avoid being separated. Bernardo and Anita
already arranged a marriage between Maria and Chino like that of Juliet
and Paris's arranged marriage. The Jets and Sharks frequently rumbled
to prove who was the best gang in the Westside like the Capulets and
Montagues fought to prove who was the best family in Verona, as
expressed by the opening prologue," Two housesolds, both alike in
dignity from ancient grudge to break to new mutiny"( ) . At
the conclusion, both delivered the same message that the tragedy was
everyone's fault not just one person. The plots and scenes for these
two plays were uncannily alike. Like Romeo and Juliet, Tony and Maria
met at a dance and it was love a first sight for both. Their love lifes were
a secret because of the warring between the gangs like that of the hostile
Montagues and Capulets. Romeo And Juliet's famous balcony scene
was mimed by Tony and Maria's fire escape scene. After the loss of their
dearest friends, Romeo and Tony both killed someone from their lover's
family. After hearing of her brother Bernardo's death, Maria still wanted
to stay with Tony like Juliet, even if it meant leaving her whole life behind
and fleeing with him. However, the endings differed a bit. First, Chino,
the Paris character, murdered Tony to avenge Bernardo's death. Rather
than killing herself, Maria wept and gave a lecture much like the Prince's
"All are punished !"( ), saying it wasn't Chino who killed Tony it
was everyonebecause everyone was filled with hate. Thus, the
characters, plot, humor, and setting of Westside Story originated from
one Shakespeare's most prolific plays, Romeo And Juliet . The
similarities of these twofamoustalesoflove made Westside Story
showed that a love story from ages ago could reappear and be
successful in the 20th century.
. Similarities of Two Famous Tales of Love In one of the most famous
love stories of this century, many elements from anotherfamous tale of
love were. setting of Westside Story originated from
one Shakespeare's most prolific plays, Romeo And Juliet . The
similarities of these two famous tales of love