Editing West Side Story (section)

==Analysis of the book==
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As in ''Romeo and Juliet'', the love between members of two rival groups in ''West Side Story'' leads to violent confrontations "and a tragic ending with an underlying message: Violence breeds violence, so make peace and learn to share turf".<ref name=Berson/> Among the social themes explored in the musical are "bigotry, cultural misunderstanding and the social failure to fully integrate and empower young people in constructive ways".<ref name=Berson/>

[[Misha Berson]] names four key differences from ''Romeo and Juliet'' in the musical: the feud derives from cultural difference; the plot omits the parents and former romances; the assault on Anita leads her to withhold the news of Maria's death from Tony; and Maria survives at the end.<ref>Berson, pp. 138–141</ref> Carla Della Gatta adds an additional three: the Jets are the holders of public space (whereas the Capulets begin Shakespeare's play); Tony does not kill Chino (whereas Romeo kills Paris); and Chino kills Tony (whereas Paris does not kill Romeo).<ref>Della Gatta, p. 3</ref>