9). Also, Laurents’ Juliet character has a different character than that of Shakespeare’s. Maria is not willing to take her own life for love as explained shown by Mr. Houghton, “The contemporary playwright obviously feels that suicide is inconsistent with his heroine’s character, that her death by her own hand would only diminish her stature” (p.11). Also inconsistent with Shakespeare’s work is the use of Puerto Ricans verses Anglos rather than Capulets and Montagues. The use of parental figure in West Side Story is noted inconsistent as well. The parents of Romeo and Juliet play a considerable role in the Shakespearean work; however, the parents of Maria and Tony are mentioned only in passing. With these character differences, West Side Story becomes almost undeniably an original work.As futile arguments of West Side Story being a modern Romeo and Juliet come and go throughout literary history, the one argument most often overlooked is the influences, both personally and socially, that are inflicted on the individual authors. People continue to believe Shakespeare created the theme of two “star-crossed” lovers. This idea is blatantly incorrect. Arthur Brooke wrote a narrative poem that influenced Shakespeare to create the Romeo and Juliet all literature students know today. Brooke’s poem, The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Juliet, amazingly enough, contained the theme of two “star-crossed” lovers. Likely to be accredited as Shakespearean influences are also Tristan and Yseult of medieval lore and Hero and Leander in classic legend. Shakespeare is not a deity and should not be worshipped as the sole creator of a theme such as “star-crossed” lovers. Shakespeare simply expounded on someone else’s idea, just as Laurent’s has done in West Side Story. With influences of Shakespeare established and his belittlement below deity status, the argument of t...
