Romeo and juliet vs west side story freebooksummary. This is, of course, partially due to the time in which each was written, with romeo and juliet coming from the mid16th century, while west side story was written in 1961. 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. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Books similar to romeo and juliet and west side story. In the sixteenth century, william shakespeare took this theme and fashioned one of the worlds great plays. Now i know that this is supposed to be a modernized version, but. Romeo and juliet and arthur laurentss west side story cram. Romeo and juliet and west side story analysis 76 words. In romeo and juliet and west side story it is proven time and time again that people cannot control their destiny and that true love can never be suppressed.
The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. This story was originally written in the 3rd century and then rewritten by william shakespeare in 1594. West side storyromeo juliet themes flashcards quizlet. Tromeo and juliet, 1996 tromeo and juliet is a campy, street punk version of romeo and juliet that high school teachers are highly unlikely to show in class. Romeo and juliet and west side story comparative essay. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic love story that ended in tragedy. Romeo and juliet is a sad love story thats a classic known by many. Romeo and julietwest side story by william shakespeare. West side story romeo and juliet western university. Judith leon compare and contrast similarities are very similar especially because west side story is based on romeo and juliet. Above anything and everything else, west side story is a retelling of romeo and juliet.
West side story is a retelling of romeo and juliet as a musical centered around two warring new york city gangs. Buy a cheap copy of romeo and juliet and west side story book by william shakespeare. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. In this volume are both works, which, though separated by centuries, parallel each other in many ways. Like romeo and juliet, west side story is about the forbidden love affair between two teenagers. Great art borrows from the past and gives to the future. Romeo and juliet, west side story, compare and contrast. The music was composed by leonard bernstein, and the lyrics were written by stephen sondheim. Romeo and juliet and west side story by william shakespeare, 9780440974833, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Shakespeares version was based on a poem written by arthur brooks in 1562. Similarities between west side story and romeo and juliet include the central conflict, the setting where the two main characters meet, the balcony scene and the violent conflict between the characters. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. West side story is a musical interpretation of shakespeares romeo and juliet, giving it a modern spin and a change from the original class to race rivalry.
In our own time, shakespeares drama has been used as a basis for the. This allows you to see the works as individual parts of a larger whole. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side story in a single volume. It is the perfect model to be used by other writers. The story ends after the two families decide to end their feuds after two young star crossed lovers take their life for one another. Find books like romeo and juliet and west side story from the worlds largest community of readers. Romeo and juliet and west side story by william shakespeare. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending. What are the similarities between romeo and juliet and. West side story and romeo and juliet both revolve around two rival groups andor gangs. Entire production of west side story directed and choreographed by jerome robbins romeo and juliet west side story west side story is based on one of shakespeares finest tragedies, romeo and juliet. Anton, a member of the white gang, fell in love with maria, the sister of the leader of the rival puerto.
Romeo and juliet and west side story book depository. Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare, arthur. It is about rivalry between two teenage gangs of different backgrounds. West side story simple english wikipedia, the free. Goodreads members who liked romeo and juliet and west.
Romeo and juliet west side story by william shakespeare. The setting of this play is based in the 1950s in the upper west side of new york city. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. Stephen sondheim west side story is based on one of shakespeares finest tragedies, romeo and juliet. Theres lots of reasons to watch this film, but the genius adaptation of shakespeares tale of starcrossd lovers is. I know its been a while since ive shared a book on my off the. Romeo and juliet, west side story, two timeless dramasthat will live forever. Romeo and juliet and west side story 9780440974833. No fear shakespeare gives you the complete text of romeo and juliet on the lefthand page, sidebyside with an easytounderstand translation on the right. 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. 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. West side story was based on the classic story of romeo and juliet. West side story book turned musical was written in 1957 by arthur laurents.
My main problem is that this is a complete ripoff of romeo and juliet. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. The west side story is set in upper west side manhattan. Therefore, one way to learn more about works of art is to compare and contrast them. Both west side story and romeo and juliet show the reader. The tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always intrigued writers. It starred carol lawrence as maria west side story opened on broadway at the winter garden theatre on 26 september 1957, and on the west end at her majestys theatre on 12. Romeo and tony, juliet and maria, mercutio and riff, and tybalt and bernardo. 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. They have similar scenes, similar loves, and similar deaths. The story of romeo and juliet is a love story tragedy about two families. West side story and romeo and juliet free essay example. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic.
Though one of these works is set among the nobility of verona, and the other. The classic film was directed by leonard bernstein and stephen sondheim. West side story shows how racism and xenophobia create a system that dooms the youths of working class families. Romeo and juliet and west side story book by william. In our own time, shakespeares drama has been used as a basis for the overwhelmingly successful musical play west side story. This shakespeare unlimited podcast episode honors bernsteins legacy, in the runup to the 100th anniversary of his birth. Begin with a fight between two groups of people who hate each other and they get stopped by someone who is in. Introduction to essay on romeo and juliet romeo and juliet is an play written by willian shakespeare about two lovers who are on both ends of feud between families that started many years as an simple grudge. Although west side story is not as famous as romeo and juliet, it was a impressive work of its time, and it. It is one of the best works of william shakespeare. The tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always in.
Although both of these stories havemany similarities, there are also many differences. It is based on shakespeares play, romeo and juliet. This is a particularly interesting topic, since, as has been said before me, these two plays are approached in such entirely different ways. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was. Thank you to the many someones who helped to compile this robust list of book titles. 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. Leonard bernsteins most significant contribution to the world of shakespeare was west side story, the 1957 smash broadway hit adaptation of romeo and juliet. West side story by leonard bernstein, a retelling of romeo and. Two perennial classicswilliam shakespeares romeo and juliet and the broadway musical west side storyin a single volume. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. West side story written by arthur laurents is actually a modern adaptation of shakespeares romeo and juliet. The audience can infer that the families and gangs play a huge part in changing the plot line. Buy a cheap copy of romeo and juliet west side story book.
347 1255 825 489 538 1426 1383 1196 1023 1278 98 1023 450 422 1236 468 1499 1327 263 1285 1351 498 790 93 599 493 707 611 255 555 652 599 1188 86 1339 853 976 1370 742 260 1282 347 57 569 96 261 91 1174 1287