75 pages • 2 hours read
Arthur Laurents, Stephen SondheimWest Side Story
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1961A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
West Side Story by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set in the gang-ridden streets of New York. Tony from the Jets and Maria, linked to the Sharks, fall in love amid rivalry and violence. Their tragic love story highlights racism, xenophobia, and the destructive effects of hate, ending poignantly without resolution or reconciliation from the adults. Themes included in this story are gang violence and interpersonal conflict.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
West Side Story by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim is widely praised for its groundbreaking fusion of music, dance, and narrative, reimagining Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York. Critics laud its emotional depth and cultural relevance, although some argue the portrayal of ethnic tensions feels dated. Overall, it remains a powerful and influential work.
Who Should Read West Side Story?
A reader who enjoys West Side Story by Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim would likely appreciate intense, romantic dramas with a strong musical element. Fans of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby would find the story's themes of love, tragedy, and societal conflict compelling.