West Side Story
Laurent, A., (2012) West Side Story. Anticipation and Remembrance, R.J.C. Rosthern.
The musical, “West Side Story” by Arthur Laurent, has a lot of alienation in it. Alienation describes the ironic feeling of people who feel that they don’t fit in the place where they should feel comfortable. Alienation is portrayed through the gangs, song and dance, and relationships.
Tony and Maria’s relationship was filled with alienation. Tony is from the Jets and Maria is from the Sharks, star crossed lovers. Tony and Maria’s relationship is very similar to Romeo and Juliet. Both couples fall deeply in love with one another, despite the deferent sides they were on. When Tony and Maria met each other for the first time the camera zoomed up on them, as the background got blurry. “Slowly, as though in a dream, they drift into the steps of the dance, always looking at each other, unaware of anyone, any place, any time, anything but one another” As soon as they saw each other it was love at first sight. Alienation is used with Tony and Maria because they shouldn’t be together. They may love each other but they aren’t comfortable with sharing it, so they hide it. Its iron when Tony comes to Maria’s balcony, they hush one another and say be quite. Yet they start to sing and they sing as loud as they can. After Tony is killed the bell rings just like in Macbeth. Alienation affected Tony and Maria’s relationship, and the ones around them.
Alienation is affected by both the presence and absence of adults. There are not a lot of adults in this musical. It focuses on the Sharks and Jets, and the young adults within the gangs. The have one adult who they can look up to the most was Doc. After Anita left the drug store saying Maria was killed. Doc told Tony, who was waiting for him in the basement. Doc: slapping and shaking him “Wake up! Is that the only way to get through to you? Do just what you all do? Bust like a Hot-water pipe?” Tony: “Doc, What’s gotten…” Doc: very angrily
The musical, “West Side Story” by Arthur Laurent, has a lot of alienation in it. Alienation describes the ironic feeling of people who feel that they don’t fit in the place where they should feel comfortable. Alienation is portrayed through the gangs, song and dance, and relationships.
Tony and Maria’s relationship was filled with alienation. Tony is from the Jets and Maria is from the Sharks, star crossed lovers. Tony and Maria’s relationship is very similar to Romeo and Juliet. Both couples fall deeply in love with one another, despite the deferent sides they were on. When Tony and Maria met each other for the first time the camera zoomed up on them, as the background got blurry. “Slowly, as though in a dream, they drift into the steps of the dance, always looking at each other, unaware of anyone, any place, any time, anything but one another” As soon as they saw each other it was love at first sight. Alienation is used with Tony and Maria because they shouldn’t be together. They may love each other but they aren’t comfortable with sharing it, so they hide it. Its iron when Tony comes to Maria’s balcony, they hush one another and say be quite. Yet they start to sing and they sing as loud as they can. After Tony is killed the bell rings just like in Macbeth. Alienation affected Tony and Maria’s relationship, and the ones around them.
Alienation is affected by both the presence and absence of adults. There are not a lot of adults in this musical. It focuses on the Sharks and Jets, and the young adults within the gangs. The have one adult who they can look up to the most was Doc. After Anita left the drug store saying Maria was killed. Doc told Tony, who was waiting for him in the basement. Doc: slapping and shaking him “Wake up! Is that the only way to get through to you? Do just what you all do? Bust like a Hot-water pipe?” Tony: “Doc, What’s gotten…” Doc: very angrily