Romeo And Juliet Verses West Side Story

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“Romeo and Juliet” verses “West Side Story” “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story” were both very famous plays during their time period. Although both of these stories have many similarities, there are also many differences. The plays were all driven by love and hate which also created similarities and differences. But even though “West Side Story” is more modern than “Romeo and Juliet” the plays all fall under this theme: star- crossed lovers. “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story” both start out the same with a big fight almost breaking out due to a feud going on with two groups of people. But these plays do not occur during the same time period. Romeo and Juliet happens during the Elizabethan times or 1500s while West Side Story happens during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Not only does the time period differ, the setting and families do too. In Romeo and Juliet, the play takes place in Verona, Italy and a big dispute is going on. Two families called Capulet and Montague are having a violent feud for who knows why. But there’s a twist in the play. A young, wealthy, available, 14 year old girl named Juliet Capulet falls in love with this 16 year old, handsome young man named Romeo Montague at the Capulet‘s Ball, that is unfortunately her families worst enemy. Same goes for West Side Story. A young, beautiful, poor Porto Rican girl from the Sharks gang (similar to The Montague family) named Maria ends up going to this dance with her family and notices from across the dance floor, the man of her dreams. But this man isn’t what the family is looking for. He is a Polish American from the Jet gang (similar to the Capulets) and is willing to do pretty much anything for Maria but again he was a former gang member of the Jets which is still considered an enemy. Even though Juliet and Maria have fallen in love with Romeo and Tony, their family

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