Romeo and Juliet, the West Side Story, both amazing stories both end in tragedy, one more some on less. They were both different, yet based on the same story line. There were a lot of similar things and a lot of different things. You will soon learn the differences, the similarities and the different atmosphere within each story.

Romeo and Juliet takes place in a time, where guns and basic engineering had not been introduced. Where swords and daggers were used to enforce law. And disobeying the law would get you hung, or banished. Within this world, to families with a ravage feud, disrupted the normal peace in the city. The feud had been going on for centuries, the cause was unknown. Two lovers, oblivious to the others heritage, fell in love. They kissed and rejoiced, before knowing the others name. Soon they learned of the others heritage, but it was too late to back out of such love. Romeo leaped the Capulet walls, and listen to Juliet pour out her love for him. By the next day, they were scheduled for marriage, and would be married soon. After the marriage, Romeo was as happy as could be. He met Tybalt, a Capulet, and greeted him with open arms. A friend of Romeo began to fight Tybalt though, and was slain. Although Romeo's love was unmatched by any other, he could not let his friend die, and do nothing. He slew Tybalt and cursed himself for doing so afterwards, the Prince banished Romeo. In his place of banishment. Juliet is angered with Romeo but soon find that he did it because Tybalt killed his friend. He heard news of Juliet's death. He raced back to the town to be with his wife. And drank poison in an effort to bring them together in the beyond. Juliet wasn't really dead, and when she awakened, and found Romeo she could not control her feelings, she acted quickly, and killed herself so she could be with him.

The West Side Story takes place in a time where racism was a growing problem. It took place in the depths of New York. In a run down part of town, where there is no rich, only poor. Where kids are tortured on the streets, by gangs. The gang which supposedly owns the town is known as the Jets. They are feared by many, but not the Sharks. The Sharks is another gang, a new one the members consist of no girls like the jets. But when the jets are American, these juveniles are Puerto Rican. None the less, in this time and age, there are guns and general engineering. The law is enforced by police. A former member of the Jets meets a girl, she is beautiful beyond reasoning, and while looking at her he can focus on none else. His name was Tony, her name Maria. All though they don't know this yet each other, they feel as if they were destined to meet. Maria's boyfriend Chino slips her mind, as she is focused on Tony. She doesn't know his name, but doesn't care she is too deeply in love and knows he is as well. Tony walks toward her, not knowing not caring. This is what he had been waiting for, something big just around the corner. They fell in love like quicksilver, but soon found that they were each others enemies but it was too late. Later that night Tony made his way to Maria's apartment he found her their, and proposed his love. Although they never married, they acted as if they were. Soon Maria finds out about a gang war, and tells Tony to go stop it. He cant Tony's best friend is killed so in rage he killed Bernardo, Maria's brother. Maria hears news of this from Chino, and she begs him to tell her if Tony is all right. Chino finds Maria and Tony are in love and begins to track Tony down. Maria is extremely angered with Tony, but soon finds that he did it because her brother killed his best friend. She forgives him, but Tony had to hide cops were looking for Jets, Sharks, and Tony. Chino was also looking for Tony, so he his in the bottom of a drugstore. Maria is delayed and can't get to Tony so they can leave. So she sends Anita to give him a message. Anita is willing to do this for her, but on arriving at the drugstore she is harassed by Jets, and can't give him the message because she's angered. Tony hears that Maria is dead, and runs outside and tells Chino to get him; he finds tat Maria isn't dead, and runs to her, but is shot in the process. Maria wants to kills herself but doesn't. It ends in tragedy.

Many differences and similarities evolved from these stories. They are in the many, both stories end in tragedy, one a little less then the other. Although they are both Tragic well written. The differences are noticeable, but as you can see there are many noticeable similarities. Like Tony and Maria meeting not knowing each others heritage as Romeo and Juliet. And Romeo hearing of Juliet's death, and taking a step toward his death, as Tony did yelling for Chino to get him to.