West Side Story Essays -- English Literature

West Side Story 1. Point out how the general setting of the play is established. Give at least two examples. The play West Side Story takes place in a suburb on the West Side of New York City. We can conclude that we are talking about a socially disadvantaged suburb as the surrounding area is described with high brick walls, not very attractive and by the presence of the two gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. We are also able to say in which time period the actions take place. As an indicator we are using the dance at the gym in Act I,Scene 4, where Tony and Maria first meet. At this dance everyone is dancing the jitterbug just as the jive. Both were popular during the 1940`s and 1950`s. We should also mention that it is summer. Otherwise typical autumn or winter weather would have been mentioned and/or the gangs possibly would not set the rumble outside. ( 139 ) 2. Outline the typical features of the society depicted. First we meet the Jets. They are a group of polish ancestry, all born in America therefore representing the american part. The group itself represents some kind of close belonging-together in which no outsider is allowed to enter. Even for Anybodys, who desperately wants to be accepted within the group, the access is somehow denied. This also shows some sort of hierarchy the Jets follow. Despite the hierarchy the members of the Jets behave more or less the same. They see the memebers as superior individuals especially when comparing with the Sharks or their own family. For example do they express themselves on their parents: â€Å"our mothers all are junkies, our fathers all are drunks† ( Act II, Scene 2). No matter what when it comes to the â€Å"spics† they feel the membership to ... ...e and harmony without being threatened should not be left out from this list. Tony and Maria are obviously not able to do so. Also when Anita enters the shop to leave a message for Tony is she treated with disrespect. This, as well as blaming Maria for not sticking â€Å"with her own kind† might lead to her telling a lie. One aspect going along with the preceding statements, being of great importance especially in this play, is the equality of all people living in the United States. In no part of the play do the different cultural groups seem to be equal unless in the end when Tony is killed. Only because of her hate does Maria give the impression of everyone in the scene being equal. In all other scenes everyone is treated according to their descent. The Jets are treated differently by the police and – as we are told within the society - as the Sharks are. West Side Story Essays -- English Literature West Side Story 1. Point out how the general setting of the play is established. Give at least two examples. The play West Side Story takes place in a suburb on the West Side of New York City. We can conclude that we are talking about a socially disadvantaged suburb as the surrounding area is described with high brick walls, not very attractive and by the presence of the two gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. We are also able to say in which time period the actions take place. As an indicator we are using the dance at the gym in Act I,Scene 4, where Tony and Maria first meet. At this dance everyone is dancing the jitterbug just as the jive. Both were popular during the 1940`s and 1950`s. We should also mention that it is summer. Otherwise typical autumn or winter weather would have been mentioned and/or the gangs possibly would not set the rumble outside. ( 139 ) 2. Outline the typical features of the society depicted. First we meet the Jets. They are a group of polish ancestry, all born in America therefore representing the american part. The group itself represents some kind of close belonging-together in which no outsider is allowed to enter. Even for Anybodys, who desperately wants to be accepted within the group, the access is somehow denied. This also shows some sort of hierarchy the Jets follow. Despite the hierarchy the members of the Jets behave more or less the same. They see the memebers as superior individuals especially when comparing with the Sharks or their own family. For example do they express themselves on their parents: â€Å"our mothers all are junkies, our fathers all are drunks† ( Act II, Scene 2). No matter what when it comes to the â€Å"spics† they feel the membership to ... ...e and harmony without being threatened should not be left out from this list. Tony and Maria are obviously not able to do so. Also when Anita enters the shop to leave a message for Tony is she treated with disrespect. This, as well as blaming Maria for not sticking â€Å"with her own kind† might lead to her telling a lie. One aspect going along with the preceding statements, being of great importance especially in this play, is the equality of all people living in the United States. In no part of the play do the different cultural groups seem to be equal unless in the end when Tony is killed. Only because of her hate does Maria give the impression of everyone in the scene being equal. In all other scenes everyone is treated according to their descent. The Jets are treated differently by the police and – as we are told within the society - as the Sharks are.