I think that the most striking similarity would be to
analyze how both Romeo and Tony react to seeing the object of their infatuation. When
Romeo first sees Juliet, he describes her in a manner that captures a moment in time,
and what pure beauty resembles:
readability="8">He [Romeo] compares her [Juliet] beauty to the
brightness of torches, a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear, and a snowy
dove.This is similar to how
Tony describes his vision of Maria in the song,
"Maria:"The
most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria . . .
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word...Maria, Maria, Maria,
Maria . . .In both
descriptions, the beauty of Juliet and Maria are brought out in full detail, and to the
extent that whatever injustices might exist in the world are rectified with the presence
of this "other." It is here where I think that some differences might exist. When
Romeo encounters Juliet, his love for her is prefaced by a melancholy over his failures
with Rosaline. Juliet becomes a great "rebound" for Rosaline. Yet, for Tony, his
feelings of melancholy do not arise from a failed love, but rather from a lack of
direction. Tony finds himself adrift of wondering where his direction in life is to
be. No longer with the Jets, working at Pop's store, and wondering if "Something's
Coming," the preface to his seeing Maria is not a failure in love like Romeo, but rather
a sincere questioning of identity and place in the world. For both young men, the
frustration of consciousness is replaced with love inspired by stunning
beauty.
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