West Side Story

What are the Jets and Sharks fighting over? Why is this important to them?

control of the playground; their turf is important to them because it is like they have authority over the other gang

Why doesn't Tony identify himself as a Jet any longer?

\-wants to start a life and future for himself. has a family, so he doesn't rely on the Jets as much

Why has Bernardo brought Maria to America?

To marry Chino, someone he trusts, outside of the world that they lived in Puerto Rico

What is the difference between Bernardo and the men's perception of being in America and the ladies' understanding?

\-the men think that they have less opportunities because they are Puerto Rican. -the ladies are more free and have more opportunities-besides Chino, the ladies are the only ones that have a job

What spiritual commitment do Maria and Tony make to each other? How is this different from Romeo and Juliet?

\-Maria and Tony promise that they will stay together in their pretend marriage (more of an emotional commitment)-Romeo and Juliet actually get married, so they vow to be with each other for the rest of their lives

What type of world do Tony and Maria imagine for themselves?

They imagine a world where they can be together in peace, and also that there will be peace within the Jets and the Sharks.

Why doesn't Anita deliver the correct message to Doc and Tony?

-She wants to protect Maria against the Jets, especially after she was sexually assaulted by them.

What is ironic about the world created after Tony's death? What comparisons can we make between this scene and Romeo and Juliet?

\-The Jets and the Sharks are at peace, which is what he wanted, it just happened after he died.-The Jets and the Sharks carry out Tony's body and walk out together. -This is like Romeo and Juliet, where there is peace between the families after the two deaths, which is what they wanted.

Why do the Jets feel as if the system failed them? Why do they perceive their juvenile delinquency as incurable?

\-The three adults that they go to (song: Gee, Officer Krupke) all fail them and pass them onto someone else. -They feel incurable because their families have failed them and they have not had a solution to all of their problems. They also do not want to help themselves at this point.

matches with Maria

Juliet

matches with Tony

Romeo

matches with Chino

Paris

matches with Anita

Nurse

matches with Bernardo

Tybalt

matches with Riff

Mercutio

matches with Lieutenant Shrank

Prince Escalus

sings Maria

Tony

sings Something's Coming

Tony

sings I Feel Pretty

Maria

sings America

Anita and Rosalia

sings Cool

Riff and Jets

sings Gee, Officer Krupke

Action and the Jets

sings Somewhere

Maria and Tony

sings A Boy Like That

Anita and Maria

playright

Arthur Laurents

created the music

Leonard Bernstein

wrote the lyrics

Stephen Sondheim

directed the play

Jerome Robbins

setting

Upper West Side of Manhattan, 1960s in a blue collar neighborhood

matching with the Jets

Montagues

What were the Jets like?

\-teen street gang-did not attend school, work, or contribute to society-middle class with no connection to family-leader=Riff

matching with the Sharks

Capulets

What were the Sharks like?

\-teen street gang-try to find work, but can't because no one will hire them (they feel rejected by society) -Puerto Rican immigrants.-Leader=Bernardo

colors of the Sharks

red, purple, and black

colors of the Jets

orange, green, and yellow

What is the importance of Maria wearing white to the dance?

she is neutral, not a part of either gang -represents a religious aspect, from a communion dress