In the book West Side Story Tony has a large importance in Maria’s life pushing her to make increasingly rebellious actions. Growing up includes experiencing rebellion. For instance, everyone has engaged in rebellious behavior at some point, like sneaking out, fighting, abusing drugs and alcohol, and many other things. As Maria is 18 she is still a teenager who is going to do rebellious things. Maria showed rebellion by kissing Tony, sleeping with Tony, and telling a lie to a police officer about Tony's identity. First Tony and Maria meet at the dance and she acts rebellious by kissing him. Tony asks Maria wondering if she's thinking he is someone else. However Maria answers by saying “I know you are not” (Laurents 154). She knows she is not supposed to be speaking to him but does it anyhow. Tony "stops to kiss her hands... then... her lips " (Laurents 155) even though they are different races. Maria chooses to kiss him regardless of him being white. Therefore, this demonstrates an example of Maria’s rebellious behavior. …show more content…
Maria sings when she is ready for the wedding about how she has “such a pretty face, such a pretty dress, such a pretty smile, such a pretty me” (Laurents 197). Even though Tony is white Maria chooses to “marry” him. After Tony and Maria sleep together he "scrambles out the window as Maria hastily puts a bathrobe on" (Laurents 212). They do this to try and hide the fact that they just slept together from Anita. Therefore, Maria is rebellious with Tony by sleeping with him and defiant towards he culture by having sex before