A Summary Of West Side Story Essay, Research Paper

West Side Story

The drama/musical, which parodies the story of Romeo & Juliet, takes place in a city of New York, probably in the early 50 s late 40 s. It is a tale of two rival gangs, which despises the other in a vicious circle of hate. Riff leader of the Jets; a group mainly of Polish origin and the Sharks of Spanish origin with their leader Bernardo. It seems as though the two rivals have been at their quarrels since before the story took place. Through mysterious fate the neutral one s from either side meet. From the Jets: loyal friend to Riff, Tony, and from the Sharks the beautiful Maria sister of Bernardo. Eyes met and soon enough love was in the air, the thought of each other cursed through both of their veins. From that day of the dance, a meeting was to take place involving both gangs in which they will once and for all settle the rivalry in a rumble. Alas, tragedy strikes and strikes hard at that. The leaders of both gangs fall to the ground. Riff by the hands of Bernardo, then Bernardo by the hands of Tony. Angry and confused Maria still retains her love for Tony even after her only brother was slain, but little did they know the jealous Chino had caught on to the lovers. In order to escape the justice of the law Tony had to make his escape but first found aid among his friends.

A message was sent through Anita, girlfriend to Bernardo, for Maria was detained by the police at the time for questioning. Anita angry at how cruel and stubborn the Jets could be gave a message that was totally unorthodox to the one originally said. The message was of Chino who had killed of Maria after finding out the truth of the two, hearing this Tony had completely lost his will to live and called through the streets of the city for Chino to come and kill him. Sadly Tony only a few feet from Maria was hit with the bullet that screamed through the air and into the body of its victim. The hate of the two gangs killed off the chance at two legitimate and innocent people to live happily ever after.