Connections to Romeo and Juliet

Last year in band we played the highlights from "The Westside Story" and got to watch the movie in class. Reading Romeo and Juliet is kind of déjà vu. Pretty much the basic plotline is that they are two gangs in New York. The Jets (White) and the Sharks (Puerto Rican). Two young people of both gangs meet at a dance and fall in love. Tony of the Jets, and Maria of the Sharks. They don't let the gang's differences come between them. Tony tries to stop a looming gang rumble out of his love for Maria. The Jet leader (and Tony's best friend) is shot by Bernardo (the leader of the Sharks and Maria's brother). Out of rage and vengence, Tony kills Bernardo. They plan to run away together, but Maria's friend is so mad that she tells Tony that Maria died. Tony is so devastated that he lets the man that wants to kill him find him. But as he does find him, Tony sees Maria right as he is shot. "The Westside Story" clearly shows the same timeless theme of pre-made grudges coming between true love and how it will lead to the lovers destruction.

Alena