| Shakespeare | West Side Story | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Masked feast | Gym dance | A household party becomes shared civic space |
| Balcony encounter | Fire escape | A private exchange takes place above a public street |
| Mercutio and Tybalt | Riff and Bernardo | Tony’s friendships pull him back into a conflict he wants to leave |
| Undelivered letter | Anita’s altered message | Interference stems from group behaviour and Anita’s decision |
| Both lovers die | Maria survives | The final accusation comes from one of the lovers |
Start with two scenes
Read Act 1, Scene 5 of Shakespeare and compare it with the dance. In both, the lovers meet while others around them are watching for breaches of loyalty. Then read Act 3, Scene 1 against the rumble. Mark the moment when a character who hoped to keep the peace becomes a participant.
Why simple one-to-one maps break down
A dramatic function can be divided among characters. A mentor can resemble Friar Laurence in one scene without performing every task the friar performs. Likewise, the finale changes whose testimony matters. An essay that begins with an apparent equivalence and ends with its limits will usually tell readers more than a list of renamed characters.