Romeo and Juliet with switchblades on the streets of Manhattan.
Who drives the story
A former Jet gone straight, working at Doc's drugstore and dreaming of a life beyond the gangs. Pulled back in by Riff, he finds love with Maria, then loses control at the rumble and dies chasing a lie.
Bernardo's younger sister, newly arrived from Puerto Rico and working in a bridal shop. She loves Tony against all warnings, and in the end she stands alone over his body, refusing to strike back.
The Jets' leader, determined to own the neighborhood, who drags Tony back into gang life and dies under Bernardo's knife at the rumble.
The proud, hot-tempered leader of the Sharks and a boxer, protective of Maria and Anita. He kills Riff at the rumble and is killed by Tony in return.
Bernardo's girl and Maria's loyal friend, torn between them after the rumble. The Jets' brutality toward her at Doc's produces the lie that kills Tony.
A Shark who was meant to marry Maria by her family's arrangement. After Bernardo's death he trades the knife for a gun and becomes the instrument of Tony's death.
The drugstore owner on whose neutral ground the Jets gather and Tony works. He repeats Anita's lie to Tony, sending him into the street to die.
How they are connected
A former Jet gone straight, working at Doc's drugstore and dreaming of a life beyond the gangs.
Pulled back in by Riff, he finds love with Maria, then loses control at the rumble and dies chasing a lie.
Pulled back in by Riff, he finds love with Maria, then loses control at the rumble and dies chasing a lie.
Bernardo's younger sister, newly arrived from Puerto Rico and working in a bridal shop.
The Jets' leader, determined to own the neighborhood, who drags Tony back into gang life and dies under Bernardo's knife at the rumble.
The proud, hot-tempered leader of the Sharks and a boxer, protective of Maria and Anita.
He kills Riff at the rumble and is killed by Tony in return.
Bernardo's girl and Maria's loyal friend, torn between them after the rumble.
The Jets' brutality toward her at Doc's produces the lie that kills Tony.
The Jets' brutality toward her at Doc's produces the lie that kills Tony.
A Shark who was meant to marry Maria by her family's arrangement.
After Bernardo's death he trades the knife for a gun and becomes the instrument of Tony's death.
Go deeper
Turf and belonging · Love across enemy lines · Escalation and the gun · The lie that kills
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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