Being A Woman Is More Than Biology - 1658 Words

Being a woman is more than biology and it even goes beyond looking at gender as a category created and developed by society. In my opinion, womanhood is similar but at the same time different than manhood. With there being so many different representations of a woman, I ask myself: What constitutes a woman? What does it mean to be a woman? In past societies but mainly in today’s, we as human feel a need to categorize people and this has been showed by the way women have been treated for so long, from the post civil war to the 1920’s and up to the 21st century. By categorizing women, we are limiting them. Women are constantly being put in a box and this is the result of socio-economic and intellectual privilege that is mostly self-created.†¦show more content†¦Women are an important part of our society because they make a difference. Bruce Bliven was a journalist born in Iowa. He worked with the New Republic, which is a liberal American magazine. In the 1920s he wrote some of his best work in which some of the subjects were freedom of speech and most importantly the rights of women and minorities. In his article Flapper Jane, he says: â€Å"Feminism has won a victory so nearly complete that we have even forgotten the fierce challenge which once inhered in the very word. Women have highly resolved that they are just as good as men, and intend to be treated so. They don’t mean to have any more unwanted children. They don’t intend to be debarred from any profession or occupation which they choose to enter.† This means that women are no longer accepting to be forced to play a role. The flappers were middle class women who had steady jobs and were involved in the city nightlife. They were referred to as a â€Å"New woman† simply because they had a carefree attitude in regards to what the males thought. They consumed alcohol and smoked which were activities previously reserved for men. These flappers sought to elimina te double standards and have their way. They are as good as men and are capable to do as much as them. They are no longer accepting to be discriminated because they believe that they have earned the rights to work and they do not want to be treated as if they

Lord Of The Flies By William Golding - 1421 Words

Krista Campbell Mrs. Daley Accelerated English 10 1 January 2015 Lord of the Flies Analysis Man’s natural inclination towards violence has plagued the human race since the emergence of us as a species, to our modern era. In William Golding s 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, we find ourselves among a group of young schoolboys stranded on an island, without a proper leader or social order. As we observe the morphosis from innocent children into barbaric savages, Golding shows that when man is given the opportunity, he will revert back to a savage state of being. Golding’s novel begins with the introduction of two boys, Ralph and Piggy, who are stranded on an island after a plane crash, and find themselves living with other survivors, all boys, and all young. Once the majority of the boys have been gathered into one area, a council meeting is held, where two leaders emerge and attempt to establish a society. Jack Merridew and Ralph both are considered by the boys to rule as a leader, but Ralph is chosen as one boy explains by stating, â₠¬Å"Him with the shell†, and another with â€Å"Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing†. With Ralph being elected while holding the shell, or the only form of established rule, we see the first emergence of civilization versus savagery. Ralph’s opposition in ruling, Jack, immediately suggests that the group of boys that he is put in control of is set to become hunters. Jack leads his boys on a hunt, and run across a piglet, which they attempt to kill,Show MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies By William Golding869 Words   |  4 PagesLord of the Flies Psychology Sometimes people wear fake personas like a cloak over their shoulders, used to hide what is really underneath. This harsh reality is witnessed in William Golding’s classic Lord of the Flies, a novel that is famous for not only its sickening plot, but also for the emotional breakdowns all of its characters experience. These issues are akin to those shown in certain real-world psychological experiments. A summary of Golding’s Lord of the Flies, combined with the evidenceRead MoreThe Lord Of The Flies By William Golding1347 Words   |  6 Pages The theme of The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is the reason society is flawed is because people are flawed. Although Piggy is knowledgeable, he has many flaws including his laziness and physical inabilities. Ralph is an authority seeker. He sets rules and laws, yet does little to enforce them. Ralph wants to be the ruler, without doing the work to enforce his laws. Jack is persistent. He is rude, harsh and violent in or der to get what he wants. He wants to be supreme. Piggy’s flaws areRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding1123 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novel Lord of The Flies by William Golding, the characters Ralph, Piggy, and Jack represent important World War II leaders Franklin Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, and Winston Churchill. Golding, who had served in World War II, was well aware of the savagery created, and used it to base his book on. Ralph represents Franklin Roosevelt , Jack represents Adolf Hitler, and Piggy represents Winston Churchill. Ralph being of the novel’s main protagonist is important in the outcome of the story becauseRead MoreThe Lord Of The Flies By William Golding1065 Words   |  5 PagesThe Lord of the Flies Essay The Lord of the Flies written by William Golding and published on September 17, 1954 is a story told about a group of stranded boys and their fight for survival against the wilderness and themselves. In this story many signs of symbolism are used by Golding to point out certain aspects of society that Golding thought strongly of. This story on first read may just seem to be a survival- esque piece of literature but, on a deeper look one can find Golding’s true motiveRead MoreLord of The Flies by William Golding619 Words   |  2 PagesGovernments are no different; they fight for power just like the rest of us do. They just do it on a much bigger scale. Qualities from Oligarchy, Totalitarianism, Democracy, Dictatorship, and Anarchy governments are used in several parts of Lord of The Flies that represent different characters and different situations. An Oligarchy is a small group of people having control of a country or organization. A Totalitarianism government is a form of government that permits no individual freedom and thatRead MoreThe Lord of the Flies by William Golding1306 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Lord of the Flies, William Golding creates a microcosm that appears to be a utopia after he discharged from the British Royal Navy following World War II. After an emergency landing, Golding places a diverse group of boys on the island that soon turns out to be anything but utopia. The island the boys are on turns out to be an allegorical dystopia with inadequate conditions (Bryfonski 22). The boys reject all lessons they learned from their prior British society, and they turn towards theirRead MoreLord of the Flies by William Golding932 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussing two particular themes from a novel called Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Lord of the Flies was written in 1954 after World War II. Ruler of the Flies is a purposeful anecdote about something that many readers can’t really describe. Individuals cant choose precisely what. Its either about the inalienable underhanded of man, or mental battle, or religion, or personal inclination, or the creators emotions on war; however William Golding was in the Navy throughout World War II, or perhapsRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding1383 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Lord of the Flies is still a Blueprint for Savagery by Eleanor Learmonth and Jenny Tabakoff, the words â€Å"I’m afraid. Of us† first appeared in Golding’s novel 60 years ago. Lord of the Flies by William Golding follows a group of schoolboys trapped on an island after a plane crash during a world war. At the beginning, they celebrate as the y have total autonomy as there are no adults around. They attempt to establish a civilization but when order collapses, they go on a journey from civilizationRead MoreLord of the Flies, by William Golding1055 Words   |  5 Pages In William Goldings Lord of the Flies a group of English school boys crash land onto an uninhabited island somewhere in the Mid Atlantic ocean. Ralph, the protagonist and also the elected leader, tries to maintain peace and avoid any calamity on the island. However, Jack is neither willing to contribute nor listen because he is jealous of Ralph and has a sickening obsession with killing boars. Ralph has some good traits that help him maintain peace and balance for a period of time. He is charismaticRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding Essay1475 Words   |  6 Pages Outline Introduction Short intro for Lord of the Flies Short intro on Gangs The bullying and group mentality demonstrated in gangs has resemblances to the characters in Lord of the Flies. II. Bullying/Group mentality Gangs Drugs/Loyalty B. Lord of the flies Jack kills the pig/Jack and Ralph fight III. Effects B. Lord of the flies Jack killing the pig aftermath Violence IV. Conclusion Gangs are considered a group of people that have a common link together

Romeo and JulietWest Side Story Essay Example For Students

Romeo and JulietWest Side Story Essay In approximately 1594, William Shakespeare began to write one of the most well known tragedies in history, Romeo and Juliet. Arguably, no author to date has matched Shakespeare’s skill and beauty in the creation of this work. However, authors have regurgitated and will continue to regurgitate the theme, â€Å"star-crossed lovers†, for centuries. Martha Duffy remarks in â€Å"West Side Glory†, â€Å"Slang may change and violence escalate, but the theme of star-crossed city kids has never dated, nor has its appeal diminished† (p. 1). The only viable attempt is the work of modern dramatist Arthur Laurents. However, Laurents’ West Side Story originally written as an attempt to modernize Romeo and Juliet, actually became a work of skill and beauty in its own right. The emphasis is now removed from simply â€Å"modernizing† Romeo and Juliet; the emphasis is the creation of art through a similar theme, yet very differing styles and influences. The s imilarities abound within Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story; consequently, there are many deviations found in the plots, characters, and authors’ influences. While certain aspects of the two works remain parallel, many deviations are found within the plot. In West Side Story, the first obvious difference, excluding time periods, is the â€Å"exile† situation. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is exiled due to public knowledge of his deed. West Side Story’s Romeo, Tony, becomes a fugitive because the public is searching for a criminal. In â€Å"Introduction, Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story: An Appreciation† Norris Houghton writes, †As a result of this altered circumstance the plot of West Side Story begins at this point to deviate from Shakespeare’s drama† (p. 10). Another deviation in plot is the role of the Friar Laurence character, Doc, in West Side Story. Mr. Houghton also comments, â€Å"Doc, who is obviously intended as a counterpart of Friar Laurence, takes no comparably active role in the plotting† (p.10). Houghton also agrees, â€Å"More significantly, the false report that the boy rec eives of the girl’s death is carried by Anita through the gang as a willful act, not as an unfortuitous happenstance, such as befell Romeo because of the erroneous information Balthasar conveyed and the prevention of Friar John’s delivery of the secret of Juliet’s feigned death† (p.10)The greatest alterations in the plot of West Side Story occur in the final scene. In Romeo and Juliet, the final moment is as expected from a Shakespearean tragedy, almost all of the main characters die. However, Houghton explains that Laurents totally abandons Shakespeare’s ideals in his final scene. â€Å"Laurents eschews Shakespeare’s scheme of the fake death of Juliet induced to allow time for a reunion with Romeo† according to Houghton. Due to this abandonment, Laurents must create his own quasi-tragic ending. Laurents does create the desired ending, and with this creation he removes the slaughter and implants somewhat believable ending. At the end, Laurents’ Paris and Juliet (Chino and Maria) are still very much alive, and Tony does not take his own life; he is killed by Chino. Some suggest this ending to be a mere alteration to please the Broadway audience. However, Houghton agrees, â€Å"This can hardly be valid, for a truly sentimental ‘soap-opera’ denouncement would somehow have saved both protagonists from death and reunited them in life† (p.11). The other obvious differences in the two works are the characters. The male characters are different obviously due to time period differences. They, just as the female characters, are also different in age. Houghton implies, â€Å"At fourteen girls may have been betrothed and wed in the sixteenth century; in ours it stretches credulity† (p.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, â€Å"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 i n 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. .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .postImageUrl , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:visited , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:active { border:0!important; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:active , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Review of Literature Related to Construction Equipment Management EssayAs 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 â€Å"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 t heme of two â€Å"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 â€Å"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 the true nature of West Side Story may begin. As a post-World War II dramatist, Laurents has many more dominating influences. Two particular writers with influence on Laurents are psychological realists William Inge and Robert Anderson. In A Critical Survey of Drama, Thomas P. Adler states, â€Å"Like them(Inge and Anderson), Laurents is primarily a playwright who focuses upon character† (p. 1100). Adler also suggests, â€Å"Laurents reveals a solid measure of Thorton Wilder’s influence, both in the generally optimistic philosophy as well as in the nonrealistic techniques of some of his later plays and musical books† (p. 1100). It is this optimism that helps to separate the tone and general mood of the two differing works. To fully comprehend the magnitude of this original work, it is important to view West Side Story as a social comment rather than a modern Romeo and Juliet . The most influential objects in the life of Arthur Laurents are the post-war prejudice, social tension, and the truncated socio-economic classification of societal groups. In â€Å"The Arafues and the Rabinets†, Luis Smythe portrays the delicacy of unavailing this work. Smythe comments, â€Å"He waited until gang conflicts had subsided on New York’s upper west side before offering† (p. 1). Mr. Houghton actually emphasizes the impact of this work on the ordinary citizen by writing, â€Å"The modern play deals with a tragedy through which we all are living† (p. 12). The sum of Laurents’ work is told through Maria as she stands by her fallen lover and cries, â€Å"We all killed him!†The facts are clear, Arthur Laurents is not some second-rate copycat author. An analogy is made by Robert Brus tein in â€Å"Whose Faust Is It Anyway?† Brustein says, â€Å"West Side Story is about as true to its source as Superman is to Nietzsche’s ebermensch† (p. 1). He is, in fact, a superb writer who, just as Shakespeare did, expounded on an over-used, sensitive theme of â€Å"star-crossed† lovers to covey the message laid on his heart to the best of his abilities. West Side Story is similar and different from Romeo and Juliet; it is not better nor worse. West Side Story is a wonderful creation of art by a man who should never be persecuted for his lack of originality, but should be praised for his intellect and ingenuity. Bibliography:

Romeo and JulietWest Side Story Essay Example For Students

Romeo and JulietWest Side Story Essay In approximately 1594, William Shakespeare began to write one of the most well known tragedies in history, Romeo and Juliet. Arguably, no author to date has matched Shakespeare’s skill and beauty in the creation of this work. However, authors have regurgitated and will continue to regurgitate the theme, â€Å"star-crossed lovers†, for centuries. Martha Duffy remarks in â€Å"West Side Glory†, â€Å"Slang may change and violence escalate, but the theme of star-crossed city kids has never dated, nor has its appeal diminished† (p. 1). The only viable attempt is the work of modern dramatist Arthur Laurents. However, Laurents’ West Side Story originally written as an attempt to modernize Romeo and Juliet, actually became a work of skill and beauty in its own right. The emphasis is now removed from simply â€Å"modernizing† Romeo and Juliet; the emphasis is the creation of art through a similar theme, yet very differing styles and influences. The s imilarities abound within Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story; consequently, there are many deviations found in the plots, characters, and authors’ influences. While certain aspects of the two works remain parallel, many deviations are found within the plot. In West Side Story, the first obvious difference, excluding time periods, is the â€Å"exile† situation. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is exiled due to public knowledge of his deed. West Side Story’s Romeo, Tony, becomes a fugitive because the public is searching for a criminal. In â€Å"Introduction, Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story: An Appreciation† Norris Houghton writes, †As a result of this altered circumstance the plot of West Side Story begins at this point to deviate from Shakespeare’s drama† (p. 10). Another deviation in plot is the role of the Friar Laurence character, Doc, in West Side Story. Mr. Houghton also comments, â€Å"Doc, who is obviously intended as a counterpart of Friar Laurence, takes no comparably active role in the plotting† (p.10). Houghton also agrees, â€Å"More significantly, the false report that the boy rec eives of the girl’s death is carried by Anita through the gang as a willful act, not as an unfortuitous happenstance, such as befell Romeo because of the erroneous information Balthasar conveyed and the prevention of Friar John’s delivery of the secret of Juliet’s feigned death† (p.10)The greatest alterations in the plot of West Side Story occur in the final scene. In Romeo and Juliet, the final moment is as expected from a Shakespearean tragedy, almost all of the main characters die. However, Houghton explains that Laurents totally abandons Shakespeare’s ideals in his final scene. â€Å"Laurents eschews Shakespeare’s scheme of the fake death of Juliet induced to allow time for a reunion with Romeo† according to Houghton. Due to this abandonment, Laurents must create his own quasi-tragic ending. Laurents does create the desired ending, and with this creation he removes the slaughter and implants somewhat believable ending. At the end, Laurents’ Paris and Juliet (Chino and Maria) are still very much alive, and Tony does not take his own life; he is killed by Chino. Some suggest this ending to be a mere alteration to please the Broadway audience. However, Houghton agrees, â€Å"This can hardly be valid, for a truly sentimental ‘soap-opera’ denouncement would somehow have saved both protagonists from death and reunited them in life† (p.11). The other obvious differences in the two works are the characters. The male characters are different obviously due to time period differences. They, just as the female characters, are also different in age. Houghton implies, â€Å"At fourteen girls may have been betrothed and wed in the sixteenth century; in ours it stretches credulity† (p.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, â€Å"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 i n 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. .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .postImageUrl , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:visited , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:active { border:0!important; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:active , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Review of Literature Related to Construction Equipment Management EssayAs 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 â€Å"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 t heme of two â€Å"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 â€Å"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 the true nature of West Side Story may begin. As a post-World War II dramatist, Laurents has many more dominating influences. Two particular writers with influence on Laurents are psychological realists William Inge and Robert Anderson. In A Critical Survey of Drama, Thomas P. Adler states, â€Å"Like them(Inge and Anderson), Laurents is primarily a playwright who focuses upon character† (p. 1100). Adler also suggests, â€Å"Laurents reveals a solid measure of Thorton Wilder’s influence, both in the generally optimistic philosophy as well as in the nonrealistic techniques of some of his later plays and musical books† (p. 1100). It is this optimism that helps to separate the tone and general mood of the two differing works. To fully comprehend the magnitude of this original work, it is important to view West Side Story as a social comment rather than a modern Romeo and Juliet . The most influential objects in the life of Arthur Laurents are the post-war prejudice, social tension, and the truncated socio-economic classification of societal groups. In â€Å"The Arafues and the Rabinets†, Luis Smythe portrays the delicacy of unavailing this work. Smythe comments, â€Å"He waited until gang conflicts had subsided on New York’s upper west side before offering† (p. 1). Mr. Houghton actually emphasizes the impact of this work on the ordinary citizen by writing, â€Å"The modern play deals with a tragedy through which we all are living† (p. 12). The sum of Laurents’ work is told through Maria as she stands by her fallen lover and cries, â€Å"We all killed him!†The facts are clear, Arthur Laurents is not some second-rate copycat author. An analogy is made by Robert Brus tein in â€Å"Whose Faust Is It Anyway?† Brustein says, â€Å"West Side Story is about as true to its source as Superman is to Nietzsche’s ebermensch† (p. 1). He is, in fact, a superb writer who, just as Shakespeare did, expounded on an over-used, sensitive theme of â€Å"star-crossed† lovers to covey the message laid on his heart to the best of his abilities. West Side Story is similar and different from Romeo and Juliet; it is not better nor worse. West Side Story is a wonderful creation of art by a man who should never be persecuted for his lack of originality, but should be praised for his intellect and ingenuity. Bibliography:

Romeo and JulietWest Side Story Essay Example For Students

Romeo and JulietWest Side Story Essay In approximately 1594, William Shakespeare began to write one of the most well known tragedies in history, Romeo and Juliet. Arguably, no author to date has matched Shakespeare’s skill and beauty in the creation of this work. However, authors have regurgitated and will continue to regurgitate the theme, â€Å"star-crossed lovers†, for centuries. Martha Duffy remarks in â€Å"West Side Glory†, â€Å"Slang may change and violence escalate, but the theme of star-crossed city kids has never dated, nor has its appeal diminished† (p. 1). The only viable attempt is the work of modern dramatist Arthur Laurents. However, Laurents’ West Side Story originally written as an attempt to modernize Romeo and Juliet, actually became a work of skill and beauty in its own right. The emphasis is now removed from simply â€Å"modernizing† Romeo and Juliet; the emphasis is the creation of art through a similar theme, yet very differing styles and influences. The s imilarities abound within Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story; consequently, there are many deviations found in the plots, characters, and authors’ influences. While certain aspects of the two works remain parallel, many deviations are found within the plot. In West Side Story, the first obvious difference, excluding time periods, is the â€Å"exile† situation. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is exiled due to public knowledge of his deed. West Side Story’s Romeo, Tony, becomes a fugitive because the public is searching for a criminal. In â€Å"Introduction, Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story: An Appreciation† Norris Houghton writes, †As a result of this altered circumstance the plot of West Side Story begins at this point to deviate from Shakespeare’s drama† (p. 10). Another deviation in plot is the role of the Friar Laurence character, Doc, in West Side Story. Mr. Houghton also comments, â€Å"Doc, who is obviously intended as a counterpart of Friar Laurence, takes no comparably active role in the plotting† (p.10). Houghton also agrees, â€Å"More significantly, the false report that the boy rec eives of the girl’s death is carried by Anita through the gang as a willful act, not as an unfortuitous happenstance, such as befell Romeo because of the erroneous information Balthasar conveyed and the prevention of Friar John’s delivery of the secret of Juliet’s feigned death† (p.10)The greatest alterations in the plot of West Side Story occur in the final scene. In Romeo and Juliet, the final moment is as expected from a Shakespearean tragedy, almost all of the main characters die. However, Houghton explains that Laurents totally abandons Shakespeare’s ideals in his final scene. â€Å"Laurents eschews Shakespeare’s scheme of the fake death of Juliet induced to allow time for a reunion with Romeo† according to Houghton. Due to this abandonment, Laurents must create his own quasi-tragic ending. Laurents does create the desired ending, and with this creation he removes the slaughter and implants somewhat believable ending. At the end, Laurents’ Paris and Juliet (Chino and Maria) are still very much alive, and Tony does not take his own life; he is killed by Chino. Some suggest this ending to be a mere alteration to please the Broadway audience. However, Houghton agrees, â€Å"This can hardly be valid, for a truly sentimental ‘soap-opera’ denouncement would somehow have saved both protagonists from death and reunited them in life† (p.11). The other obvious differences in the two works are the characters. The male characters are different obviously due to time period differences. They, just as the female characters, are also different in age. Houghton implies, â€Å"At fourteen girls may have been betrothed and wed in the sixteenth century; in ours it stretches credulity† (p.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, â€Å"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 i n 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. .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .postImageUrl , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:visited , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:active { border:0!important; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:active , .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6 .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufbfb5fccb73fdfe795e8c098b53502f6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Review of Literature Related to Construction Equipment Management EssayAs 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 â€Å"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 t heme of two â€Å"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 â€Å"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 the true nature of West Side Story may begin. As a post-World War II dramatist, Laurents has many more dominating influences. Two particular writers with influence on Laurents are psychological realists William Inge and Robert Anderson. In A Critical Survey of Drama, Thomas P. Adler states, â€Å"Like them(Inge and Anderson), Laurents is primarily a playwright who focuses upon character† (p. 1100). Adler also suggests, â€Å"Laurents reveals a solid measure of Thorton Wilder’s influence, both in the generally optimistic philosophy as well as in the nonrealistic techniques of some of his later plays and musical books† (p. 1100). It is this optimism that helps to separate the tone and general mood of the two differing works. To fully comprehend the magnitude of this original work, it is important to view West Side Story as a social comment rather than a modern Romeo and Juliet . The most influential objects in the life of Arthur Laurents are the post-war prejudice, social tension, and the truncated socio-economic classification of societal groups. In â€Å"The Arafues and the Rabinets†, Luis Smythe portrays the delicacy of unavailing this work. Smythe comments, â€Å"He waited until gang conflicts had subsided on New York’s upper west side before offering† (p. 1). Mr. Houghton actually emphasizes the impact of this work on the ordinary citizen by writing, â€Å"The modern play deals with a tragedy through which we all are living† (p. 12). The sum of Laurents’ work is told through Maria as she stands by her fallen lover and cries, â€Å"We all killed him!†The facts are clear, Arthur Laurents is not some second-rate copycat author. An analogy is made by Robert Brus tein in â€Å"Whose Faust Is It Anyway?† Brustein says, â€Å"West Side Story is about as true to its source as Superman is to Nietzsche’s ebermensch† (p. 1). He is, in fact, a superb writer who, just as Shakespeare did, expounded on an over-used, sensitive theme of â€Å"star-crossed† lovers to covey the message laid on his heart to the best of his abilities. West Side Story is similar and different from Romeo and Juliet; it is not better nor worse. West Side Story is a wonderful creation of art by a man who should never be persecuted for his lack of originality, but should be praised for his intellect and ingenuity. Bibliography: