Warm-up – take down the quote and question. Comparing Romeo and Juliet with WS Date: Objectives Take notes on the comparisons between West Side story and Romeo and Juliet. Warm-up – take down the quote and question. “TONY: We'll let him know. I'm not one of 'em, Maria. MARIA: But you are not one of us. And I am not one of you” Tony and Maria come from two different worlds while Romeo and Juliet come from the same world. Do you agree? Homework Journals – but Exam Papers over holidays.

Introduction Arthur Laurent’s West Side story is an homage (sign of respect) to William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet differ in many ways however. Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona in about 1594. West Side Story takes place in New York City in 1957. (Write out as many differences between Italy in the 1500’s and America in the 1950’s as you can imagine. Focus your answer on the people, what groups they are organised into, who’s in charge, are they the same races, do they have the same money, etc.)

Tony - Romeo Tony is a romantic young man who was the leader of the Jets. He matured and outgrew the gang however, finding an honest job at Doc’s store. This is very different to Romeo who is a Montague, a rich aristocrat, who is not very mature at all. While Romeo is sulking about a girl, Tony is hard at work; “TONY: Everything's important, Riff. You, me, the sweet guy I work for.… I promised Doc I'd clean up the store tonight.” (Tony is also smarter – think about the deal he makes at the war council)

Maria - Juliet Maria works in a bridal store with her brother’s girlfriend Anita. She has just arrived in the country from Puerto Rico for her arranged marriage to Chino. It is not believed that Maria loved Tony as much as Juliet loved Romeo, as seen at the end of the play. She gets angry, threatening the gangs when Tony is killed but she does not kill herself; “Maria: All of you! You all killed him! And my brother, and Riff. Not with bullets, or guns, with hate. Well now I can kill, too, because now I have hate!” (What ages do you think they are? Might this add to this point)

Bernardo - Tybalt Bernardo is the leader of the sharks and is a very unhappy immigrant. Unlike Tybalt, we can feel sympathy for Bernardo as he has suffered from racism; “BERNARDO: Who jumped me the first day I moved here? RIFF: Who asked you to move here? Move where you're wanted, Spics!” He is also Maria’s big brother and protector. While Tybalt wants violence for violence sake, Bernardo wants justice for his family, friends and loved ones. Maria lovingly refers to him as her ‘silly watchdog’. (Do you imagine any sort of relationship between Juliet-Tybalt? Why?)

Riff – Mercutio / Benvolio Alongside Tony, Riff set up the Jets. The gang represents all that he is and wants to be. It makes him feel great and powerful. Tony is like a big brother to Riff, as opposed to Romeo appearing as a little brother to Mercutio and Benvolio. With nowhere else to go, Tony’s family took care of Riff; “RIFF: Four-and-a-half years I live with a buddy and his family. I think I'm digging a guy's character. Boy, I'm a victim of disappointment in you.” (He has complete faith in Tony, believing he’ll return to the Jets. Is Romeo a character people have faith in do you think?)

Anita - Nurse Anita is Bernardo’s girlfriend and like a big sister to Maria. She is someone Maria can confide in and talk to as Juliet does with the Nurse. Anita is the cause of Tony’s death however. After almost getting raped by the Jets, she tells them; “You tell that murderer that Maria's never going to meet him. You tell him that Chino found out about them and shot her. She's dead.” (Is it strange that Maria asks for her help after Tony killed her boyfriend? Is it strange she agrees to help)

Cooldown I think I know I wonder