East Side Story

West Side Story

West Side Story is a modern novel version of Shakespeare's play,

Romeo and Juliet. The two main characters are Polish boy named Tony and

a Puerta Rican girl named Maria. Maria is Bernardo's sister, the leader of a

street gang named the Sharks. The Sharks are a Puerto Rican gang. Tony is

a member of the Jets, the rival white gang of the Sharks wanting to keep

Puerto Ricans out. The beginning starts as both gangs gather at a local

dance. There, Tony and Maria meet and fall in love. They both know that

their love is dangerous and begin to meet in secret. They continue meeting

for a few weeks.

When a street fight breaks out between the Sharks and the Jets, Tony

intervenes in hopes of putting an end to the senseless fighting. Despite his

intentions, Tony is pulled into the fight as he witnesses his best friend, Riff,

killed by Bernardo. Tony murders Bernardo, like Shakespeare's Tybalt

killing Mercutio, and Romeo avenging him. Tony becomes a fugitive and

plans to escape with Maria. Tony is told that Maria has died. Not wanting

to live without Maria, Tony comes out of hiding and reveals himself to the

Sharks. Avenging Bernardo's death, Chino shoots and kills Tony on sight,

just at the moment Tony and Maria are reunited.

The dramatic difference between West Side Story and Romeo and

Juliet is that Maria is left alive to deal with Tony's death. Maria and Tony

both were victims of racism, intolerance, and mistrust. Racism was shown

to be uncompromising and unforgiving. This story was a lot more

believable too.