Romeo and juliet and west side story 9780440974833. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Throughout the tragedy of romeo and juliet and west side story the audience can find several things in common, but on the contrary the differences between the two are quite translucent. He served as the first dean of the division of theater arts and. West side story and romeo and juliet are similar and alike. Romeo and juliet vs west side story freebooksummary. In west side story, the character bernardo kills riff, the best friend of tony, which leads to tony killing bernardo. Minimal markingshighlighting oninside book, none of which detracts from content. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood.
Young lovers caught between prejudice and warring street gangs in a retelling of romeo and juliet. May 31, 2005 shakespeares romeo and juliet and west side story both have a lot in common as well as major differences that set them apart. Romeo and juliet and west side story share many similar themes. Everyone has read romeo and juliet, the classic love story by william shakespeare, and most have seen the movie west side story, probably noticing some similarities two groups against each other with lovers in the middle, and a tragic ending. West side story, the iconic, tonywinning broadway musical transplants romeo and juliet to the backstreets of new york on chicagos biggest stage at lyric. Romeo and juliet and west side story by norris houghton. West side story and the american idea of getting along. Romeo and julietwest side story by william shakespeare. Find this book add to reading list please note that the lexile measures for a small population of books have been recently updated. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was written around the year 1595.
Romeo and juliet and west side story by william shakespeare. Though one of these works is set among the nobility of verona, and the other among immigrant families of new yorks west side, both tell the story of the plight of young starcrossed lovers. In our own time, shakespeares drama has been used as a basis for the overwhelmingly successful musical play west side story. A comparison of scenes from west side story and romeo and.
The characters have a direct correlation to each other, yet racial. Though one of these works is set among the nobility of verona, and the other among immigrant families of new yorks west side, both tell the story of the plight of young star. In the west side story maria and tony fall in love with each other as do romeo and juliet. West side story and romeo and juliet differ in many ways.
West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeare s romeo and juliet. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was. In this volume are both works, which, though separated by centuries, parallel each other in many ways. Romeo and juliet cant be together because of their familys hatred, and tony and marias love is. The violent confrontations between the characters of west side story also reflect those found in romeo and juliet. Juliet is betrothed to paris, and maria has been set up with chino some montague men crash the capulet party in which romeo meets juliet. Throughout the story, both romeo and juliet, along with the other characters, fantasise about it as a dark being, often equating it with a lover. The west side story is set in upper west side manhattan. Romeo and juliet, west side story, two timeless dramasthat will live forever. It is the perfect model to be used by other writers. First performed around 1596, romeo and juliet has been adapted as a ballet, an opera, the musical west side story, and a dozen films. Romeo and juliet versus west side story by kirk forte romeo and juliet, west side story, two timeless dramas that will live forever. Buy a cheap copy of romeo and juliet and west side story book by william shakespeare. Romeo and juliet and west side story 9780440974833 and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at.
The movie, filled with exhilarating dance sequences choreographed by jerome robbins and memorable songsincluding tonight, maria, and somewhereby leonard bernstein music and stephen sondheim lyrics, won 10. West side story romeo and juliet western university. Though one of these works is set among the nobility of verona, and the other. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. They both consist of a pair of starcrossed lovers and the story of their short lived love, which eventually ends in deaths. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the. This single volume containing the scripts of both west side story and its source, romeo and juliet, is an excellent resource for comparing and contrasting both plays. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. In the sixteenth century, william shakespeare took this theme and fashioned one of the worlds great plays. A comparison of scenes from west side story and romeo and juliet cinematography the scene before the meeting scene in west side story maria spins around in her dress the camera then carries on spinning which creates a colourful blurred effect on the screen. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time and the score. Although both of these stories havemany similarities, there are also many differences. Romeo and juliet and west side story comparative essay.
All in all, west side story and romeo and juliet are classics that will stand the test of time. Romeo and juliet and west side story comparative essay two feuding families in the old city of verona, and two rival gangs in new yorks west side. In the shakespeare play, tybalt kills mercutio, and romeo in turn kills tybalt. Capulet, for example, when he first discovers juliet s faked death, describes it as having deflowered his daughter. Romeo and juliet, west side story, compare and contrast. West side story written by arthur laurents is actually a modern adaptation of shakespeares romeo and juliet. The film romeo and juliet 1968 is about two rival families, the montagues and the capulets, whose family feuds have gone so far back in their history that they forget the fuel behind their disputes.
West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic love story that ended in tragedy. West side story and romeo and juliet both revolve around two rival groups andor gangs. West side story is different from romeo and juliet in many ways laurences west side story is an apparition of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Theres lots of reasons to watch this film, but the genius adaptation of shakespeares tale of starcrossd lovers is. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side storyin a single volume. In our own time, shakespeares drama has been used as a basis for the. Shakespeare s the tragedy of romeo and juliet and arthur laurent s west side story share many elements in common, but also have differences that separate them. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. Although west side story is not as famous as romeo and juliet, it was a impressive work of its time, and it has left his mark on the times afterwards. The late late show with james corden recommended for you. The two stories are similar in a multitude of ways, even though their settings are.
No fear shakespeare gives you the complete text of romeo and juliet on the lefthand page, sidebyside with an easytounderstand translation on the right. Romeo and juliet is a sad love story thats a classic known by many. Although west side story is not as famous as romeo and juliet, it was a impressive work of its time, and it. Judith leon compare and contrast similarities are very similar especially because west side story is based on romeo and juliet. It is about rivalry between two teenage gangs of different backgrounds. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. The tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always intrigued writers. Modernday montague, from a rival gang instead of a rival family. The story of starcrossed lovers will continue to exist for as long as man does. Although west side story is a direct rendition of shakespeares original play, many of the themes and symbols are altered to fit the modern perspective. The two stories are similar in a multitude of ways, even though their settings are centuries apart romeo and juliet set in the 1500s, and west side story set in the 1950s. Buy a cheap copy of romeo and juliet west side story book.
The audience can infer that the families and gangs play a huge part in changing the plot line. Romeo and juliet versus west side story study guides and book. Vivid film adaptation of the landmark broadway musical, updating the romeo and juliet story to the youthgang atmosphere of late 1950s n. Personally, i did not like the endings of west side story and romeo and juliet. West side story and romeo and juliet free essay example. Romeo and juliet and west side story book by william shakespeare. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side story in a single volume. Laurents wrote the book for west side story, which updated romeo and juliet to the streets of new york, with gangs called the jets and the sharks replacing the houses of.
Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare. Shakespeares the tragedy of romeo and juliet and arthur laurents west side story share many elements in common, but also have differences that separate them. Begin with a fight between two groups of people who hate each other and they get stopped by someone who is in. Therefore, one way to learn more about works of art is to compare and contrast them. Romeo and juliet and west side story by william shakespeare, 9780440974833, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Aug 02, 2012 romeo and juliet comparison in themes the overriding theme, of course, between the two stories romeo and juliet and the west side story is love deep, intense and passionate love that defies friendship, family and everything in between. Romeo and juliet no fear translation famous love story ever written. Theres lots of reasons to watch this film, but the genius adaptation of shakespeares tale of starcrossd lovers is the big one.
What are the similarities between romeo and juliet and. Above anything and everything else, west side story is a retelling of romeo and juliet. Shakespeares romeo and juliet and west side story both have a lot in common as well as major differences that set them apart. Get an answer for compare and contrast tony and romeo in west side story with romeo and juliet. West side story is based on one of shakespeares finest tragedies, romeo and juliet. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. Compare and contrast tony and romeo in west side story. The tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always in. Two perennial classics william shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side storyin a single volume. Romeo and juliet west side story a comparison contrast 993 words. West side story as a modern romeo and juliet writework. This allows you to see the works as individual parts of a larger whole.
Both characters are portrayed as growing out of youthful pastimes in favour of romantic pursuits. Romeo and juliet west side story a comparison contrast. Stephen sondheim west side story is based on one of shakespeares finest tragedies, romeo and juliet. Great art borrows from the past and gives to the future. Whittled down to one hour and fortyfive minutes, west side story with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein, lyrics by stephen sondheim, and choreography by jerome robbins. Capulet, for example, when he first discovers juliets faked death, describes it as having deflowered his daughter. Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare, arthur.
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