Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a story that many people are familiar with, even to the point that many mindlessly quote the balcony scene without really even knowing what it means. It is a classic story that students have learned about in school for years now, and still do to this day. Since it has been published in the 1500s, it has become one of the most famous love stories in history, and as the years have progressed, people have created several stories that portray many similar ideas. One of those stories is West Side Story; with the rivalries, the love story, and even the lesson, it follows the concept of Romeo and Juliet more closely than one would think. In one of the stories, the hatred that the characters have …show more content…
The main characters, Romeo and Juliet, from the play Romeo and Juliet, as well as Tony and Maria, from West Side Story, join together in astonishment of each other. In both stories the lovers are practically frozen in time, trying to take in their love for each other. Once they have gotten past the initial sight of each other they realized that their families would not approve of their love, but both sets of characters refused to end their love affairs. In both stories the lovers snuck around, hoping for a way for them to be together. The couples refused to let the things such as a last name or where they came from tear them apart, and were willing to go through anything to be …show more content…
The end of West Side Story has Tony and Maria running towards each other after Tony comes back from trying to break up a rumble between the Jets and the Sharks. One of the characters runs after him and shoots him, just as him and Maria join together for a big embrace. Tony dies in Maria’s arms while she sings to him, and all of the Jets and Sharks gather around them in silence. As heart-broken as Maria is, she thankfully does not kill herself. She exclaims “you all killed him…not with bullets and guns; with hate!” The weapons did nothing, but what Maria means is that none of that would have happened if they did not hate each other so much. They would have been able to live in peace, and the same goes for Romeo and Juliet. Without a feud no one would have to get hurt or die, but since neither, the family names, nor the different nationalities were able to be put aside, both sides had to suffer the
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a story of two young lovers. These two hearts, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet belong to feuding families. The family feud causes them to keep their love a secret and therefore only Romeo, Juliet, Benvolio, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence know of their love. Romeo and Juliet are able to look past the feud and let themselves fall in mad love with the other. They let themselves do almost anything for the other and at times it seems like too much to do, even for the one they love. Although fate and character traits play a key role in the play, ultimately Rome and Juliet’s personal choices lead to their downfall.Fate originates all of the conflicts in Romeo and Juliet, from when they met until they die.
In comparison, Romeo and Juliet story can be compared to West Side Story. For instance, the dance held in both stories is where the lovers met. The common trait between the love of Romeo & Juliet and Tony & Maria was it was forbidden. Both Romeo and Tony angered their friends because they neglected them for their lovers. Also, both Maria and Juliet completely disagree with their arranged marriages. However, the difference between these stories is only one lead to the death of both
The archetypal tragedy of two star-crossed lovers, separated by familial hate, is a recurring theme, which never fails to capture the minds of the audience. It is only at great cost, through the death of the central characters that these feuding families finally find peace. This is an intriguing idea, one antithetical. I have chosen to analyze both Shakespeare 's Romeo and Juliet and Laurent 's West Side Story. The purpose of this essay is showing how the spoken language is utilized in these different plays to meet differing objectives. The chosen scenes to further aid comparison and contrast are the balcony scenes.
In plays, as in real life, individuals’ actions can change the course of events in theirs, as well as, other individuals’ lives. In both Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, the lovers were forced to take their own lives or be killed because of fate and the actions of others.
The play West Side Story, by Arthur Laurents, is based upon the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Despite a few differences, both works, in essence, have the same plot. The source of violence in Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story is the ever-present hatred between families and between gangs, although, because of the "star-cross’d lovers" motif in Romeo and Juliet, the hatred plays a larger role in producing the ending of West Side Story than it does the ending of Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet is a famous tragedy written by Shakespeare. The plot is based on an Italian tale but Shakespeare makes it more dramatic by developing specific characters, such as the Nurse and Mercutio. The plot is set in Verona in the sixteenth century. The Montagues and the Capulets are two distinguished families in Verona; however, they see each other as enemies. They are fighting all the time. Romeo and Juliet, who respectively are Montague and Capulet, fall in love at their first sight. In the end, two star-crossed lovers are dead. The Montagues and the Capulets reconciled by their children’s death and end the feud which has lasted generations.
West Side Story, a film directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, is a relatively modern adaptation of William Shakespeare 's Romeo and Juliet. As both, the film and text, explore the perceptions of deep-rooted feud between two parties, it also includes the influence and pressure it has on young love. Although numerous similarities are encountered throughout the play and movie, there are distinguished concepts obtaining great difference. However, the two mediums of this tragic love story have three prominent issues of story, themes and characters instilling both similar and dissimilar concepts.
The romantic tension between Romeo and Juliet and Tony and Maria in Shakespears original play and its modern day remake, Westside Story, is what makes them have such passionate and entrancing scenes. The main reason for romantic tension in these two plays is because the two couples can’t be together like they want to be. There are many different aspects that create different quality of romantic tension in these two scenes. Although the two plays have similar plots, the romantic tension between the two lovers is very different because of the setting, the language and the circumstances in which the lovers face.
I preferred Romeo and Juliet to Shakespeare in Love because Romeo and Juliet felt like a tragedy, while Shakespeare in Love was sad at the end but there wasn’t as much bloodshed and violence, and nobody in Shakespeare in Love were bitter and heartbroken at the end besides Shakespeare and Viola. Even though it was hard to understand at times I like the iambic pentameter and poetic language in Romeo and Juliet. Although I did enjoy the humorous parts of Shakespeare in Love but there was still funny parts in Romeo and Juliet.
To say a couple is star-crossed means that their relationship will not last and is cursed to not work out. However, this couple may have intense feelings for each other, but not be destined to be together. It is called star cross because people who believe in astrology think the stars control human feelings. That is of course an opinion and why Shakespeare wrote that Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers.
The love that Maria and Tony have shows their willingness to sacrifice for each other no matter the circumstances. Despite being from two different gangs, Tony and Maria go through great lengths to see their relationship blossom. In the musical, there are several instances when Tony and Maria meet secretly without their friends or families knowing. Understanding the consequences of being caught, they still felt a profound love for each other that could not keep them apart. Maria sacrificed her entire life with her family and friends to run away with Tony. Her love was the priority and nothing else mattered except Tony. Tony was also willing to sacrifice for Maria as he puts her before his family, friendships, and values. Love brought these two together made their relationship strong against the will of others in their lives. In the musical West Side Story, and play Romeo and Juliet, Tony and Romeo display many similar
...easurable and choices you never thought that you would make are made. Romeo and Juliet decided that they would marry- until death do them part- they loved one another so much that even then they did not part. They committed suicide to be together- together in a place, hopefully, where they could be free from prejudice and hate. Tony and Maria never got the chance to run away and live together in this place, either. While both stories chronicle how hatred, prejudice, forbidden love and stereotypes change a person, neither mention what really made their lives impossible- revenge. A revenge that ran so deep, it ended lives. This was a revenge that didn’t solve any problems, but simply led to more, bigger problems. So, maybe while love can do miraculous things, like help you forget how to hate your enemies, even it is not fully capable of eliminating revenge.
Contrasts in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. “Romeo and Juliet” is a famous romantic drama written by William Shakespeare contains many contrasts within it, portraying the eponymous lovers’ everlasting love for one another. The conflict between the two families; the Montagues and the Capulets makes it. almost impossible for them to be together. The play consists of romance and humour building up to the climax of Romeo and Juliet’s death.
Romeo and Juliet, one of the most famous and acclaimed plays of William Shakespeare, recounts the romance of a couple whose lives destiny would at the end head towards tragedy. This play takes place in Verona in the late 1500’s. The play deals mostly with the fact that Romeo couldn’t be with Juliet since their families were such big rivals. However, though all of their family hated each other so much, Romeo and Juliet had never met before.
In the end, Romeo kills himself, while Tony is running away from Chino. Chino is similar to Paris in Romeo and Juliet, but a little different because Paris got killed by Romeo, while Chino slew Tony.