West Side Story

West Side Story

1. Point out how the general setting of the play is established.

Give at least two examples.

The play West Side Story takes place in a suburb on the West Side of

New York City. We can conclude that we are talking about a socially

disadvantaged suburb as the surrounding area is described with high

brick walls, not very attractive and by the presence of the two gangs

– the Jets and the Sharks.

We are also able to say in which time period the actions take place.

As an indicator we are using the dance at the gym in Act I,Scene 4,

where Tony and Maria first meet. At this dance everyone is dancing the

jitterbug just as the jive. Both were popular during the 1940`s and

1950`s.

We should also mention that it is summer. Otherwise typical autumn or

winter weather would have been mentioned and/or the gangs possibly

would not set the rumble outside.

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2. Outline the typical features of the society depicted.

First we meet the Jets. They are a group of polish ancestry, all born

in America therefore representing the american part. The group itself

represents some kind of close belonging-together in which no outsider

is allowed to enter. Even for Anybodys, who desperately wants to be

accepted within the group, the access is somehow denied. This also

shows some sort of hierarchy the Jets follow. Despite the hierarchy

the members of the Jets behave more or less the same. They see the

memebers as superior individuals especially when comparing with the

Sharks or their own family. For example do they express themselves on

their parents: “our mothers all are junkies, our fathers all are

drunks” ( Act II, Scene 2).

No matter what when it comes to the “spics” they feel the membership

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...e and harmony without being threatened

should not be left out from this list. Tony and Maria are obviously

not able to do so. Also when Anita enters the shop to leave a message

for Tony is she treated with disrespect. This, as well as blaming

Maria for not sticking “with her own kind” might lead to her telling a

lie.

One aspect going along with the preceding statements, being of great

importance especially in this play, is the equality of all people

living in the United States. In no part of the play do the different

cultural groups seem to be equal unless in the end when Tony is

killed. Only because of her hate does Maria give the impression of

everyone in the scene being equal. In all other scenes everyone is

treated according to their descent. The Jets are treated differently

by the police and – as we are told within the society - as the Sharks

are.