Love Lost

“ Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” dictated William Shakespeare in the prologue of his play, Romeo & Juliet. West Side Story, directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, is a film about two gangs in New York during the 1950’s who are fighting each other. Their feud is based on racial and ethnic differences. This differs from Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, where the main conflict is centered around an old family feud. One might think that love can overcome all problems. However, through these texts, it is clear that the smallest differences, such as a name or skin color can destroy the strongest of relationships. The relationships between Romeo and Juliet or Tony and Maria are destroyed by racial differences, as well as social differences, and what family one comes from.

Romeo’s and Juliet’s love for each other was destroyed in the end by the suffering and death, caused by the Montagues and Capulets feuding. In the story, many important people, including the lovers themselves, die due to the family feud, whether they were directly murdered by someone on the other side or forced to take their own lives because

Mooney 2 of the pain caused by the fighting. In the last line of the play, the prince states, “ For never was a story of more woe than that of Juliet and her Romeo,”(Shakespeare). At this point the two have taken their own lives due to a long series of events, including the death of one of Juliet’s cousins and Romeo’s banishment from Verona. All of this has stemmed from a grudge between the heads of the family that doesn’t include the children. The hate the families share has consumed t...

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From both Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, it is clear how relationships can be destroyed by racial differences, family ties, and social problems. Both stories vary slightly in certain elements such as setting and time period, as well as some key points in the storyline, but the message is the same; The strongest of relationships can be ruined by the smallest of differences. The change in time periods between the two shows that their message is timeless and it can apply to any couple in any situation.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Rpt. in The Language of Liturature. By Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Little, 2002. 990-1102. Print

"West Side Story (1961) - Quotes." IMDb. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.

West Side Story. Dir. Jerome Robbins, and Robert Wise. 1961. United Artists, 1961. Film