What drives the conflict in ‘West Side Story’?
That will be a tough balancing act. The conflict in “West Side Story” is driven by the love of a young man and woman on Manhattan’s West Side: a beautiful and true love, but not one powerful enough to overcome the ethnic prejudice that structures their existence. Those ethnic differences, in other words, are what drives the conflict.
What is the plot of Westside Story?
Summaries. Westside story is a modern musical representation of the classic story "Romeo and Juliet". The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. Tensions rise as a shark girl named Maria and a Jet named Tony fall for eachother, but there's a problem they can never be allowed to be together.
What is the rivalry between the gangs in West Side Story?
The rivalry between the gangs is in place from the beginning, but it reaches a fever pitch when Maria falls for Tony, the founder of the Jets, at a local dance. West Side Story is the classic tragedy of Romeo & Juliet set in a modern setting.
What does the end of West Side Story mean?
West Side Story (one of many movies based on Shakespeare plays ) is incredibly sad but everything that happens, including Tony's death, serves to prove the real meaning of the movie's end. The story shows that racial prejudice is senseless and leads to unwarranted violence that hurts everyone.
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What is the original main conflict about in West Side Story?
Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, the story is set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, then a multiracial, blue-collar neighborhood. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
Who is the conflict between in West Side Story?
It shows the growing tensions between the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang, and the Jets, a gang made up of "American" boys. An incident between the Jets and Shark leader, Bernardo, escalates into an all out fight between the two gangs. Officers Schrank and Krupke arrive to break up the fight.
What is the main message of West Side Story?
Why they've succeeded as well as they have here is simple: They realize the core message of West Side Story is that in world racked by racism, nativism, impossible division, poverty and a lack of hope, there is still the possibility that maybe, just maybe, love can prevail.
What is the climax of West Side Story?
At the climax of West Side Story, Maria brandishes the gun that killed her star-crossed lover, Tony, and declares that, “We all killed him,” because of the unbroken cycle of violence and hate between the two rival gangs.
Why does Maria sleep with Tony?
To adults, it is clear that Maria and Tony sleep together after Tony admits he killed her brother — and they do more than simply rest their eyes. To younger viewers (especially those who haven't had "the talk"), it might simply seem like all that making out has bonded them very quickly.
Who kills Tony in West Side Story?
ChinoThe answer is yes. Tony—a former member of the Jets and Maria's love interest—is the third character to die in West Side Story. Tony is shot by Chino, a friend of Bernardo's who's in love with Maria.
What are the two themes in West Side Story?
“'West Side Story' deals with themes of racism and bigotry — themes you'd think would no longer still be relevant in 2016,” says James. “But unfortunately, we are still dealing with these same bigotries.”
Does West Side Story have a happy ending?
But the happy scene is quickly shattered as Chino comes out of the shadows and shoots Tony down. A shocked Maria threatens to kill everyone with the gun at first, but ultimately can not do it. The Jets members carry Tony's body away as police cars arrive, responding to the gunshots.
Conflict In West Side Story
West Side Story is a brilliant updating of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the two warring families of Verona now two streets gangs of kids from two different immigrant cultures coexisting in one New York City neighborhood.
West Side Story Analysis
The making of West Side Story contains multiple aspects that fascinate me. Part one of the 3-part radio series explains the interesting original plan for the show, the use of cinematic movements, and the illusion of tough talk. The producers originally devised a plan that involved parties, Catholics, and Jews on the east side of New York City.
West Side Story Speech
with the corresponding character from West Side Story . You should analyse the way that characterization reflects context. Explain how each character reflects the values, attitudes and/or lifestyles within that society.
West Side Story
West Side Story In this musical, it uses several types of narratives, for example, after the fight between the Jets and Puerto Ricans, after the police leave, they enter the ally and the girl is begging to join the gang saying how much she wants to fight is a part of narrative sexuality (B 34).
West Side Story
West Side Story Day 4: 2-page essay The West Side Story portrays the lives of two different gangs living in America, as well as their beliefs and examples of living a good life. The expectations of what people consider the good life to be may vary on a person's morals and their dreams of what life is truly about.
Gang and West Side Story
the Royals was no more than 'business' if you will. The author doesn't emphasize on the unbreakable bond that the gang members felt toward each other. After evaluating some main points in West Side Story I feel that the author elaborated a lot on the inseparable bond that the Jets had with each other.
West Side Story Quotes
Josephine Tschirhart Mrs. Hughes Advanced ELA 26 May 2016 Love and Fear A pair of star-crossed lovers. Two gangs who kill. Three young boys who die. In the musical West Side Story by Arthur Laurents, there are two gangs- the Jets and the Sharks, who are constantly brawling over a block in New York City.
What is a supersummary of West Side Story?
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
When did West Side Story come out?
When West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, it was a new kind of musical. At the time, the phrase “Broadway musical” was synonymous with “musical comedy.”. Musical theatre typically took a lighthearted approach, even when broaching serious issues. But West Side Story, perhaps one of the most famous adaptations of William Shakespeare’s Romeo ...
What is the Jets' fight with the Sharks?
The Jets challenge the Sharks to a rumble (a massive fight) to resolve a territory dispute once and for all. Tony and Maria meet, and fall instantly in love. Tony tries to stop the rumble for Maria’s sake, but Bernardo stabs Riff. Tony reacts, avenging Riff’s death by killing Bernardo.
Does Maria kill herself in Juliet?
He discovers that Maria is alive, but a Shark shoots him. Tony dies in Maria’s arms. But unlike Shakespeare’s Juliet, Maria doesn’t kill herself. Instead, she rebukes both gangs for the lives lost, and watches as the Sharks and the Jets come together to carry off Tony’s body.
Is West Side Story a happy ending?
And unlike the typical Broadway musical of the 1950s and before, West Side Story does not offer audiences a happy ending. Just as Romeo and Juliet are born to rival families, Tony and Maria are associated with rival gangs. Tony is a Jet, a gang of American-born youths led by his best friend, Riff.
What The Sharks & Jets Were Really Fighting Over
Although this question is answered in the beginning of the movie (before West Side Story 's characters Tony and Maria are even introduced), the rival gangs spend so much time fighting over little things that the actual conflict is forgotten.
Why Riff Refused To Stop The Fight
Though the rift between the Jets and Sharks is due to misconceptions that each group has about the other, Riff plays a key role in continuing to egg on the fighting between the groups in West Side Story .
Why The Sharks Finally Accepted Anybodys Into The Gang
Throughout Spielberg's West Side Story, a character named Anybodys (Ezra Menas) is seen trying desperately to prove himself to the Jets and become an accepted part of the gang.
What Maria Meant When She Said Now She Had Hate
The Jets try their best to protect Tony from both the Sharks and the police but their attempts are futile once Valentina ( Rita Moreno, who could make Oscars history if she is nominated for her role in this film) has passed along Anita's (Ariana DeBose) lie that Chino has shot Maria.
Why Valentina Made Chino Turn Himself In
Although Tony's death was really caused by something bigger than a single person, it was Chino who pulled the trigger. After the Sharks and Jets join together to carry away Tony's body, Valentina comes alongside Chino as police cars pull up and she makes him turn himself in.
The Real Meaning Of West Side Story's Ending
West Side Story (one of many movies based on Shakespeare plays ) is incredibly sad but everything that happens, including Tony's death, serves to prove the real meaning of the movie's end. The story shows that racial prejudice is senseless and leads to unwarranted violence that hurts everyone.
What is the theme of West Side Story?
A main theme in "West Side Story" is racism.
Why were the Jets intimidated by the Sharks?
The Jets were intimidated by the Sharks mostly because they didn’t act like them, look the same, or have the same beliefs as them. The same can be said for the Sharks, and it’s because of these differences that these two groups of people were willing to physically hurt each other, even to the point of death.
Is West Side Story still popular?
The risk definitely paid off, because even today "West Side Story" still remains a very popular musical. The main message that this show is trying to convey to the audience is that it shouldn’t take a horrible tragedy to finally unite people.
