Similarities Between Romeo And Juliet And West Side Story

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Could you imagine risking your life for a person you’ve known for only a day? Romeo and Juliet written by Shakespeare is a tragic romance play that takes place in Fair Verona, Italy during the fourteenth century. The play is about two young Italian teenagers that fall deeply in love at first sight, however, they are from two feuding families, the Capulets and Montagues. On the other hand, West Side Story is a movie that portrays similarities from Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story is by Tony Kushner that takes place in the west side of Manhattan in New York City, in the 1950s. Two young teenagers who fall in love from two different hostile gangs, the sharks and the jets is what is the main conflict in West Side Story. Though both West Side …show more content…

Maria from West Side Story and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet both are the female protagonists that fall in love with the male protagonist from the opposing group. Juliet’s father and Maria’s sister both do not approve of their relationships with the guys whatsoever. Yet Maria and Juliet are also different, Juliet stabbed herself for Romeo, but Maria, however, stays alive for Tony. Another set of characters that show multiple similarities is Tony from West Side Story and Romeo from Romeo and Juliet. Both of the male protagonists have fallen in love with the girl from the opposite group, and make plans to run away with them. On the other hand they also contrast, for example Tony wanted to take his time before running away, however Romeo in a very short period of time decided he wanted to run away and marry each other. West Side Story’s characters and Romeo and Juliet’s characters have multiple similarities and differences that show how related the two stories …show more content…

Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story’s main conflict is the feuds between the Montague and Capulet in Romeo and Juliet and in West Side Story the feud between the Jets and the Sharks. Fighting by not inviting each other to big parties and who is the better family is the reason the Montagues and Capulets do not get along. The Jets and Sharks are fighting because the Jets, which is a gang from Manhattan, do not want the Sharks to be in Manhattan. They are similar because they are both fighting with a group of people they despise. These actions are important to the stories because they are the main conflict that resolves in the children or members from the groups falling in love. Additionally the plots are similar because both the male protagonist and female protagonist from the stories fall in love at first sight. Yet their interactions are different since the setting and the actions of when they meet contrast. During Shakespeare's play the setting where Romeo and Juliet first meet in the bathroom during the Capulet’s party. However, during Kushner's film, Tony and Maria meet at a school dance. Also their first interactions are different because when Romeo first sees Juliet he grabs her hand and gives her a kiss. In West Side Story when Tony and Maria first meet behind the bleachers they danced together. West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet have multiple