Westside story Essay Example

Westside story Paper Westside story takes the form of a musical. The plot works itself around the songs which are structured in each scene. There are two acts and within the acts are scenes which help to create the storyline and structure the play. As there are two scenes we could say there are two episodes, because the first act builds up the story and develops the key roles of the characters so the audience gets to know what they are like. In the first scene in act one we are immediately introduced to the two gangs. The audience find out what is happening between both gangs and the reasons why these events are happening. The first scene is structured so that it builds into both gangs having a rumble. After this scene the rest of the play is set out to revel the build up tension before a big climax at the end of both acts. There are a number of scenes within both acts. It is set in chronological order; however act two has fewer and shorter scenes compared to act one. This could be in order to build up tension and the last scene of the whole play releases this for the big final. This is shown in the scene involving Tony and Doc at the drugstore and Doc reveals to Tony that Chino has shot and killed Maria. We will write a custom essay sample on Westside story specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Westside story specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Westside story specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This is a very short scene; it has created an effect on the audience because it straight to the point and it leaves the audience thinking what is Tony going to do next? As the play has taken the form of a musical. Songs and dance has obviously been included. These are used within the play and must work well to have the desired effect with the storyline for the play to work as a whole. This is shown in act one scene five when Tony is outside Marias window and they both sing, Tonight, Tonight. They are showing their true love for each other and nothing can stop them from being together. This song has been structured so that it finishes towards the end of the first act and the eventual climax of it. Another example is also in act one scene five when the Puerto Ricans sing the song, America. This fits in with the storyline because of the fact that they are immigrants who have just moved here showing their feelings and views about America and Puerto Rico. Dance is used to reflect movement and physicality. An example of this is the opening scene when the Sharks and Jets are introduced. We acted out this scene as a class. We divided ourselves into two equal groups, lined up and faced the opposite group about ten feet away from each other. We each held a pose for a few seconds and began walking around the room keeping eye contact with everyone especially those in the opposite group. Each of us had our eye one particular rival gang member, we both would eventually come together making unfriendly gestures towards each other and try and get a nasty reaction out of one another, like imitating the way one walks. After getting away from one another, each and every one of us in the whole class would suddenly hit someone, be hit or dragged by our hair by an imaginary person, but with no one physically jus imitating as if someone was really there. The sequences of the balance of dialogue, monologues and songs were factors that do effectively create the desired effect. The actions and dialogues used in the play helps to show us their background culture. For example, the Sharks; Puerto Ricans are always clicking their fingers and are always in an upright matter. This implies their status and think highly of themselves. This is also shown through dialogue, for example when Bernardo clicks his finger, all the gang follow without him having to say a word. When discussing monologues, they are spoken in both verse and song. Monologues of the characters have been structured so that they take the form of a song. Some songs involve more than one character, but whatever way the last sentence is always left with one person communicating with the audience. The structure of the play as a whole does not change very much. At the end of both acts there are major climaxes and they built up in the previous scenes. The two main scenes are at the end of each act. At the end of act one, tension has been increases slowly between the two gangs and in this scene both gangs want to end their rivalry once and for all. Also, Tony has fallen in love with Maria, sister of Bernardo, and Maria made Tony promise to not let ant fighting go ahead between both of the gangs. This keeps the audience from wondering if Tony would keep his promise to Maria or not. Both gangs meet under the highway; this provides a necessary image for the fight scene and does actually work really well. Tony does try to stop the fight, however resulting to Bernardo stabbing and killing Riff, Tonys best friend. Tony, in rage that his best friend has just been murdered accidentally, without thinking of the consequences grabs a knife and stabs Bernardo and kills him. Tony is left standing over the two bodies and screams out Marias name. This scene ends with Tony running away and then it is a blackout, end of act one. This leaves the audience on the edge of their seat wanting to know what is going to happen next. The playwright has considered the form of the play and has carefully balanced out what has happened and why. The final scene of the play is the most important of them all. The setting fits with the storyline and as it is set in a street in darkness does give the impression the story is near to an end. The audience want to know what is going to happen now. What one small character can say or do can change the whole course of the play. The scene begins with Tony screaming Chinos name. Tension is still increasing as the audience know that Chino didnt really kill Maria, as this is what Doc told Tony earlier. However, the audience still want to know how this is all going to turn out. To Tonys surprise Maria appears from the shadows and they both begin to run towards each other. Everyone in the audience think they are finally found out the truth and all can be forgiven and they are going to live happily ever after. They are wrong, to the audiences shock when Tony is running towards Maria a gunshot is fired from the shadows and Tony falls into Marias arms and eventually dies. All the characters appear and both gangs reunite and carry Tonys body out and the play is ended. The structure has been created to build up the audience for a happy ending; however the complete opposite has been made giving an unexpected shock to the audience. This is a very powerful scene and the way the scenes have been structured and set out help make tension and give satisfaction to the audience.

First Amendment Rights Essay example

First Amendment Rights Essay example First Amendment Rights Essay example Schroerlucke 1 Laura Schroerlucke E. Fowler Honors Sophomore English February 24th, 2013 Hate Groups in the United States and First Amendment Rights The First Amendment of the United States Constitution was written to protect the right of freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. Freedom of expression consists of the freedom of speech, press and assembly, the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief ( First Amendment). The First Amendment prevents Congress from making any law that disrespects a religious establishment or prohibits its free exercise (The Constitution). Indubitably, with these rights comes its disputes. However, even when abused, freedom of speech should not be limited. When First Amendment Rights have been abused, the result has often been hate crimes. A hate crime is violence stemming from intolerance and provincialism and consists of a group of people intending to hurt and intimidate someone because of their national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability (Hate Crime: The Violence of Intolerance). People who are identified with a hate group are usually associated with them because of their belief in dominance. The purveyors of hate groups are known for using explosives, arson, weapons, vandalism, and physical and verbal violence. They use these tactics to instill fear in their victims and seek to get rid of them. Many argue that perpetrators of these crimes are able to partially get away with  Schroerlucke 2 it because of the First Amendment Rights give them too much inherit ed trust and power. Since 2000, the number of hate groups has increased. There are 1,007 known hate groups operating in the United States ( A Visual Database of Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos). This outbreak has been fueled by fear and anger about the nation’s economy. In the early 1980s, the strategy of holding violent hate group cases in court proved to be successful with the win of numerous large damage awards on behalf of victims of hate group violence. The cases were funded directly by supporters. In the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition court case in 2011, a large anti ­immigration law was passed in South Carolina. â€Å"The law required police to demand ‘papers’ demonstrating citizenship or immigration status during traffic stops when they have reasonable suspicion that a person is an undocumented immigrant (Southern Poverty Law Center).† This law criminalized many undocumented immigrants and it was an unconstitutional measure that encouraged racial profiling. South Carolina’s law was originally inspired by Alabama’s anti ­immigration law passed in 2010 where there were unlawful searches to US citizens based on false inferences by government authorities. Ultimately, this case was challenged and lawsuits were filed, causing courts to block major portions of these laws (Southern Poverty Law Center). It is clear that with First Amendment rights also come hate groups, as well as occasional unjust and unconstitutional decisions made by the government. Limiting United States Citizens’ rights goes against every principle of freedom this country is built upon. The fact of the matter is, limiting rights won’t stop hate groups. The provocation stimulated by these hate group’s preconceived beliefs won’t end when their  Schroerlucke 3 rights are limited. People’s rights should not be subjected to termination because