Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet vs. West Side Story Essay Example

Robert Wise’s “West Side Story'' recreates the dominant ideas and values addressed by the classical piece of literature, “Romeo and Juliet” through the form of a film musical. “West Side Story” manipulates the context and changes the form of the text, as well as utilising a combination of contemporary setting and idiosyncrasies to reflect the principles of society at the time of production. Wise also keeps the connection with Shakespeare’s play through the universal themes of conflict by commenting on contemporary social issues.

In both texts, “West Side Story” and “Romeo and Juliet”, conflict is the main problem that is faced by the characters. Shakespeare’s play focuses on the dispute between the Montagues and Capulet families that have been taught to hate each other. Shakespeare depicts the concept of the feud through the use of the opening prologue where it is stated “Two households, both alike in dignity ... from ancient grudge break to new mutiny” to illustrate the ongoing conflict and grudge that isn’t likely to stop as it has been ingrained into a part of their daily lives. Robert Wise’s musical revolves around the dispute of 2 opposition gangs, the sharks and Jets, separated by the racial differences and profiling that was prevalent at the times. “West Side Story” opens up with a musical motif called the tritone that is dubbed “the hate motif” to illustrate the tension between the two gangs. This is done to transform the conflict that is present through a contemporary form making it more apparent to the audience as well as highlighting hate and conflict as a major part of the musical which also directly correlates with “Romeo and Juliet”.

Wise parallels the religious discord that was concurrent during Shakespeare’s time with the use of the racial tensions in America that would divide many. Shakespeare reflects on the divisions between the Protestants and Catholics in post-reformation England with the use of the feuding Capulets and Montagues and the overwhelming impacts of it. He establishes this through Romeo and Juliet, the “star-crossed lovers” that would catalyse conflict between the warring families due to the overt loyalty and filial piety that was expected of children at the time. On the other hand, “West Side Story” focuses on the division in 1950s America and the racial clashes that were coexistent amidst increasing immigration. The warring gangs portrayed immigrant groups at various stages of assimilation. The "Sharks" were recently arrived Puerto Ricans who were mocked for their differences, while the "Jets," who were designated as "Polacks" had arrived in the United States a generation or two earlier and had an arrogant sense of being insiders. The mutual enmity of these groups resulted in a forbidden love story almost identical to “Romeo and Juliet”, that would ultimately be extinguished by hatred.