ROMEO AND JULIET, AND WEST SIDE STORY: CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE

Universal truths are expressed, time and again, in different manners, wrapped with varied colors and decors. The truth that love knows no boundary, even death and warring families and gangs, is well articulated in two magna opera of distinguished masters in their own field of expertise. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, first printed in 1597 written by William Shakespeare. This great work is adapted in the West Side Story.  West Side Story is a romantic musical drama film, showed in 1957, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. These two great works have points of convergence and divergence when put side by side with each other.

These literary masterpieces have plenty of similarities; points of convergence. They both adapted literary works that serve as the backbone of their stories. Romeo and Juliet borrowed from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Pyramus and Thisbe), Xenophon’s The Ephesiaca (a potion that induces a deathlike sleep). West Side Story is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Rome and Juliet. The characters of the two literary works almost perfectly correspond to one another; Romeo and Juliet with Tony and Maria, Prince Escalus of Verona with Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke, Mercutio (Montague) with Riff (Jets), Tybalt (Capulet) with Bernardo (Sharks), Friar Laurence (provided the “poison” to Juliet) and Anita (cause of “death” of Maria). Both works begin with a street brawls. Romeo and Juliet begins with the street fight between the Montague and Capulet servants, in Verona. West Side Story commences with the brawl between the American gang named Jets, led by Riff, and the Puerto Rican gang named Sharks, led by Bernardo, West Side's Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan. One of the significant rising actions in these works is the meeting of the lovers in a ball. Romeo meets Juliet in the ball organized by Juliet’s Family (Capulet). Tony meets Maria in a ball too. These initial meetings are nourished by the lovers secret conversations over a balcony, in the case of Romeo and Juliet, and over a fire exit, in the case of Tony and Maria. Another rising action is the killing which involves the male protagonists and antagonists. In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio (Montague) is killed by Tybalt (Capulet) who in turn is killed by Romeo (Montague). In West Side Story, Riff (Jets) is killed by Bernardo (Sharks) who in turn is killed by Tony (Jets). Towards the end of the stories, both male protagonist, Romeo and Tony desire to die. Romeo dies by drinking a poison. Tony is shot by Chino (a member of the Sharks). Both the ends of the stories mimic the unity gained through the deaths that happen. The death of Romeo and Juliet (and Paris) cause the unity of the feuding family of Verona (Capulet and Montague), and the Prince Escalus of Verona. The murder of Tony causes the unity between the Jets, Sharks, and Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke.          

Though they may have similarities, Romeo and Juliet, and the West Side Story have differences two; some elements present in the other while lacking in the other. Romeo and Juliet involves a family. West Side Story presents a conflict between two warring gangs, more so a clash of races (American and Puerto Rican). One happens in Verona while the other in West Side's Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan. Romeo has an infatuation with Rosaline, a Capulet, while Tony solely falls in love with Maria. Juliet has Paris as her lover, while Maria remains to be a damsel protected by her kins. Romeo and Juliet secretly marry each other through the help of Friar Laurence, while Tony and Maria do not. The father of Juliet has the idea of marrying Juliet with Paris after the death of Tybalt (Capulet), while the father of Maria is almost perfectly silent throughout the film. The “death” of Juliet is due to the poison given to her by Friar Laurence. The “death” of Maria is due to the make-beliefs of Anita. After finding Romeo dead, Juliet takes her own life, while Maria, after witnessing the murder of her lover, Tony, does not take her own life.    

Romeo and Juliet, and West Side Story may have a lot of similarities and differences, of points of convergence and divergence, which span through centuries of existence, but they remain to be faithful and effective in fulfilling their purpose. That is to communicate to the readers, and viewers a universal truth about love; love conquers all.