Similarities And Differences Between Romeo And Juliet And West Side Story

Though he did make some cuts that take away from the meaning and characters of the play, the reason often made sense. For example, Juliet’s soliloquy in act 4 scene 3, which is incredibly important because it shows the darkness of Juliet, was cut because the death scene does not take place in a tomb and that is the main topic of her soliloquy. Although the audience missing the dark depression of Juliet in this soliloquy, he compensates for this by making the Juliet scene with her father where he tells her she is going to marry Paris, be much more emotional. Another cut was the death of Paris, which at first seems like an important plot point to leave out, yet other than showing Romeo’s determination to see Juliet, really has no purpose. Luhrmann

     Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story both have a lot in common as well as major differences that set them apart. Although West Side Story is a direct rendition of Shakespeare's original play, many of the themes and symbols are altered to fit the modern perspective. The characters have a direct correlation to each other, yet racial issues give them a new light. Many of the events also reflect each other, yet small differences give them uniqueness. West Side Story differs from Romeo and Juliet in characterizations, plot sequences, and themes.

A Comparison of Scenes From West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet Cinematography The scene before the meeting scene in West Side Story Maria spins around in her dress the camera then carries on spinning which creates a colourful blurred effect on the screen. The effect makes her look like she is almost spinning into the next scene. When Tony and Maria meet, all the other characters that were dancing, slow down and fade behind Tony and Maria. The room becomes dark and there is a spotlight on Maria and Tony.

Comparing Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story In this piece of coursework I will be analysing the technical aspects of the opening scenes in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story. I will be talking about the body language, costumes, colour schemes, the sounds, music and camera angles used in each of the films. Both these films are about two lovers who fall in love despite being in rival gangs or families, which eventually leads to both lovers from both the films to being killed or committing suicide.

Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story share many similar themes. Romeo and Juliet both chronicle a story of overcoming prejudice and hatred, forbidden love, and defying stereotypes that nobody thought could be broken. The two stories are similar in a multitude of ways, even though their settings are centuries apart- Romeo and Juliet set in the 1500’s, and West Side Story set in the 1950’s. Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story both teach a lesson of how prejudice can teach you how to hate, and how one of your rivals may be the one who helps you remember how to love.

Love is a universal truth that is portrayed similarly in both Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story. Two members of warring groups fall in love. Love is something that we can all relate to in one way or another and it will never change over time. In Romeo and Juliet both Romeo and Juliet have such a strong love for each other that they both commit suicide when the other dies. In West Side Story, Tony and Maria talk of running away and they have such a strong love that they believe that they can end the hatred with their love.

Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story are both iconic, enjoyable stories that most people have heard of. Romeo and Juliet was written much earlier than West Side Story was, however it was still based on older Italian stories. These stories can teach us a lot about our daily lives and how we live them. In order to do this though, we have to make other comparisons throughout the story first. So, let’s dive in and analyze the differences between the stories, their origins, and their authors.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a tragic love story. The story concerns the love between two young people, Romeo and Juliet. This is set against a feud between their two families: the Montagues and the Capulets. This feud develops the themes of conflict, deception and dignity in the play. The play includes a lot of themes, love, family, hate, deception and revenge.

The meshing of characters between Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Bernstein’s West Side Story formulate significant similarities between the two. In Romeo and Juliet the story of “Two households both alike in dignity,” (Montagues and Capulets) who have been feuding is parallel to the two gangs in West Side Story (Jets and Sharks). This grouping of loyalties keeps the segregation of the two groups at a dead lock, thus producing the tension that keeps the two lovers in each play (Romeo and Juliet, Tony and Maria) in the unattainable, intangible realm of their idealistic love. It is these two groupings that cause the star-crossed

     What would Romeo and Juliet be like if Juliet hadn't died? What if Paris killed Romeo, instead of vice versa? What if instead of occurring several centuries ago, it took place on the streets of New York City during the 1950s, with a bunch of fresh-faced youths posing as street toughs and dancing and singing their hearts out? Well, just take a look at West Side Story, and you will have your answers. It is impossible for anyone familiar with both texts to not note the obvious major similarities between the two plays. From the opening scenes in both, up through the rumble in West Side Story/death of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the plays mirror each other (Poelstra).

The play takes place in Verona, the home of the star-crossed lovers. Romeo belongs to the Montagues and Juliet the Capulets; the two groups have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember. Romeo first meets Juliet at a party the Capulets are throwing. Juliet has been promised to Paris by her father. For Romeo and Juliet, it was love at first sight. They fall in love and secretly get married with the help of Father Laurence. The newly married couple gets one night together before everything starts falling apart. Juliet’s impending marriage to Paris is moved forward. Romeo and his crew get in a fight with Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, and the rest

West Side Story maintains Romeo and Juliet’s intricate and exciting plot using appropriate adaptations to accommodate mid-twentieth-century pop culture. For instance, both artistic forms portray mutual disrespect between the parties. At the dawn of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet’s cohorts harass Montague’s. "I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it," boasts Sampson (1.1.42-43). In the opening scene of West Side Story, several members of a Puerto Rican gang insult A-rab, a member of the opposing gang. It is here where Lieutenant Schrank becomes aware of the potential rumble.

The best way to approach this work was by reading over West Side Story, then noting the similarities (and, there were many) that exist between it and Shakespeare's fare.  In the opening act of Romeo and Juliet, Sampson and Gregory, servants of Capulet, harass Balthasar and Abraham, servants to the Montagues.  "I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it," boasts Sampson (I.i.48-50).  In the opening scene of West Side Story, several Sharks (the Puerto Rican gang led by Bernardo) harass A-rab (notice the similarity in name to Abraham) ÐÐ a white dude, a Jet, and therefore, an enemy of the immigrants.  In no time at all, other Jets (led by Riff) rush to A-rab's side.  No words are exchanged between the gangs, since it is, after all, a musical, and they basically just jump around in exaggerated fashion; nevertheless, the scene (like the opening of Romeo and Juliet) sets the stage for the remainder of the production.

Romeo & Juliet and West Side Story have many similarities as well as many differences. Both the musical and play of both stories have resembliing storylines. These pieces focus on the limitations of star crossed lovers. In both scenerios, there are feuds between the two opposing groups of characters. Overall, the theme is the same and both pieces are romantic tragedies.

Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 modern adaption of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ set on the coastlines of the sizzlin’ Verona Beach takes an interesting spin on William Shakespeare’s 400 year old classic. Gang wars, drag, poison, guns, religious symbols and star-crossed love tied together with music video editing, Luhrmann only leaves the plot and dialogue relatively untouched.