Romeo And Juliet With West Side Story Essays (1590 words)

Romeo And Juliet With West Side Story Andy Warhol once said, "They say that time changes things, but actually you have to change them yourself." Two hundred fifty years passed between the original Romeo and Juliet and the premiere of West Side Story on Broadway in 1957. However, time did not change the message of the story, simply the creators' unique visions evolved. Shakespeare's delivery of the timeless tale of desperate love in his classic Romeo and Juliet proves to only intensify through retelling and modern interpretation. Audiences cherish Romeo and Juliet as one of the most beloved plays of all time from the Elizabethan Age to the present. Romeo and Juliet have attained the role as the quintessential lovers, and the noun, "a Romeo," is synonymous with " lover." Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is closely based on Arthur Brooke's tale, The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet. The language, attitudes, and customs detailed in the play are generally English, in spite of Brooke's original Italian setting. In 1949, choreographer Jerome Robbins decided to retell Brooke and Shakespeare's romantic tragedy using song and dance, elements of racism and nationalism, and a modern vernacular. Robbins called upon the musical talents of composer Leonard Bernstein and the words of Arthur Laurents for the script and book. The love story proved to have universal appeal throughout all artistic forms, as it had already been adjusted for opera and ballet. The contemporary adaptation of this timeless classic alters details and deepens the message of hatred, but maintains Brooke and Shakespeare's vision. The relationships between the characters, plot sequence, and theme of hatred in West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet intertwine resulting in two similar, yet varying versions of the most famous love story of all time. The relationships between the characters of West Side Story and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet are reflective of their respective time periods and the original story. Maria and Juliet represent a slightly practical counterpart to both Tony's and Romeo's idealistic nature. Maria's brother Bernardo and Juliet's cousin Tybalt portray impulsively stubborn and violent characters who both die from wounds inflicted by the male lead. Lieutenant Schrank is similar to Prince Escalus, although Schrank is unfair in his treatment and attitude towards one gang- the Sharks. Anita and Nurse both take on the role as Juliet's confidant and trusted friend, often tampering with their roles as messengers. The mischievously tomboyish Anybodys, who desperately wants to be a Jet, would best fit into the role of Balthasar, since it was she who aided Tony in escaping after the rumble, as well as later informing the other Jets that Tony was being hunted. Finally, the character of Doc appears to fulfill the role of Friar Laurence because both possess somewhat of a peacekeeping nature. Doc attempts to get through to Tony by dramatically pleading, "Why do you live like there's a war on? Why do you kill?" (2.5). All of the characters are consistent to the heart and soul of the story as well as the slightly differing plots. West Side Story maintains Romeo and Juliet's intricate and exciting plot using appropriate adaptations to accommodate mid-twentieth-century pop culture. For instance, both artistic forms portray mutual disrespect between the parties. At the dawn of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet's cohorts harass Montague's. "I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it," boasts Sampson (1.1.42-43). In the opening scene of West Side Story, several members of a Puerto Rican gang insult A-rab, a member of the opposing gang. It is here where Lieutenant Schrank becomes aware of the potential rumble. In Romeo and Juliet Escalus, Prince of Verona, threatens, "If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace" (1.1.103-104). In West Side Story, Schrank mediates in his own way when he declares, "I got a hot surprise for you: you hoodlums don't own the streets"(1.1). Later, another similarity takes place. Riff convinces Tony to attend the dance at the gym just as Benvolio persuades Romeo to attend the Capulets' masquerade. Tony confesses to Riff that he's "reachin' out for something"(1.2), just what, he doesn't know. Riff encourages Tony by proposing, "Maybe what you're waitin' for'll be twitchin' at the dance!" (1.2). Shakespeare and director Jerome Robbins choose to draw the audience's attention to the dramatic lovers by giving them unique and eminent qualities. At the Capulet ball in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, all of the characters speak in blank verse, but when Romeo and Juliet converse, they speak in sonnet form. Throughout the

USS Missouri (BB-63) in World War II

USS Missouri (BB-63) in World War II Ordered on June 20, 1940,  USS  Missouri  (BB-63) was the fourth ship of the  Iowa-class of battleships.   USS Missouri (BB-63) - Overview Nation: United StatesType: BattleshipShipyard: New York Navy YardLaid Down: January 6, 1941Launched: January 29, 1944Commissioned: June 11, 1944Fate: Museum Ship at Pearl Harbor, HI Specifications Displacement: 45,000 tonsLength: 887 ft., 3 in.Beam: 108 ft. 2 in.Draft: 28 ft. 11 in.Speed: 33 knotsComplement: 2,700 men Armament (1944) Guns 9 x 16 in. (406 mm) 50 cal. Mark 7 guns (3 turrets of 3 guns each)20 Ãâ€" 5 in. (127 mm) 38 cal. Mark 12 guns80 x 40 mm 56 cal. anti-aircraft guns49 x 20 mm 70 cal. anti-aircraft guns Design Construction Intended as fast battleships capable of serving as escorts for the new Essex-class aircraft carriers then being designed, the Iowas were longer and faster than the earlier North Carolina and South Dakota-classes. Laid down at the New York Navy Yard on January 6, 1941, work on Missouri proceeded through the early years of World War II. As the importance of aircraft carriers increased, the US Navy shifted its building priorities to those Essex-class ships then under construction. As a result, Missouri was not launched until January 29, 1944. Christened by Margaret Truman, the daughter of then-Senator Harry Truman of Missouri, the ship moved to the fitting out piers for completion. Missouris armament centered on nine Mark 7 16 guns which were mounted in three triple turrets. These were supplemented by 20 5 guns, 80 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, and 49 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. Completed by mid-1944, the battleship was commissioned on June 11 with Captain William M. Callaghan in command. It was the last battleship commissioned by the US Navy. Joining the Fleet Steaming out of New York, Missouri completed its sea trials and then conducted battle training in the Chesapeake Bay. This done, the battleship departed Norfolk on November 11, 1944, and, after a stop in San Francisco to be fitted out as a fleet flagship, arrived at Pearl Harbor on December 24. Assigned to Vice Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58, Missouri soon departed for Ulithi where it was attached to the screening force for the carrier USS Lexington (CV-16). In February 1945, Missouri sailed with TF58 when it began launching air strikes against the Japanese home islands. Turning south, the battleship arrived off Iwo Jima where it provided direct fire support for the landings on February 19. Re-assigned to protect USS Yorktown (CV-10), Missouri and TF58 returned to the waters off Japan in early March where the battleship downed four Japanese aircraft. Later that month, Missouri struck at targets on Okinawa in support of Allied operations on the island. While offshore, the ship was struck by a Japanese kamikaze, however, the damage inflicted was largely superficial. Transferred to Admiral William Bull Halseys Third Fleet, Missouri became the admirals flagship on May 18. Japanese Surrender Moving north, the battleship again struck targets on Okinawa before Halseys ships shifted their attention to Kyushu, Japan. Enduring a typhoon, Third Fleet spent June and July hitting targets across Japan, with aircraft striking the Inland Sea and the surface ships bombarding shore targets. With the surrender of Japan, Missouri entered Tokyo Bay with other Allied ships on August 29. Selected to host the surrender ceremony, Allied commanders, led by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur received the Japanese delegation aboard Missouri on September 2, 1945. Postwar With the surrender concluded, Halsey transferred his flag to South Dakota and Missouri was ordered to aid in bringing home American servicemen as part of Operation Magic Carpet. Completing this mission, the ship transited the Panama Canal and took part in Navy Day celebrations in New York where it was boarded by President Harry S. Truman. Following a brief refit in early 1946, the ship undertook a goodwill tour of the Mediterranean before sailing to Rio de Janeiro in August 1947, to bring the Truman family back to the US after the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Hemisphere Peace and Security. Korean War At Trumans personal request, the battleship was not deactivated along with the other Iowa-class ships as a part of the postwar downsizing of the navy. Following a grounding incident in 1950, Missouri was sent to the Far East to aid United Nations troops in Korea. Fulfilling a shore bombardment role, the battleship also aided in screening US carriers in the area. In December 1950, Missouri moved into position to provide naval gunfire support during the evacuation of Hungnam. Returning to the US for a refit in early 1951, it resumed its duties off Korea in October 1952. After five months in the war zone, Missouri sailed for Norfolk. In the summer of 1953, the battleship served as the flagship for the US Naval Academys midshipman training cruise. Sailing to Lisbon and Cherbourg, the voyage was the only time the four Iowa-class battleships cruised together. Reactivation Modernization Upon its return, Missouri was prepared for mothballs and was placed in storage at Bremerton, WA in February 1955. In the 1980s, the ship and its sisters received new life as part of the Reagan Administrations 600-ship navy initiative. Recalled from the reserve fleet, Missouri underwent a massive overhaul which saw the installation of four MK 141 quad cell missile launchers, eight Armored Box Launchers for Tomahawk cruise missiles, and four Phalanx CIWS guns. In addition, the ship was fitted with the latest electronics and combat control systems. The ship was formally recommissioned on May 10, 1986, at San Francisco, CA. Gulf War The next year, it traveled to the Persian Gulf to aid in Operation Earnest Will where it escorted re-flagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz. After several routine assignments, the ship returned to the Middle East in January 1991 and played an active role in Operation Desert Storm. Arriving in the Persian Gulf on January 3, Missouri joined coalition naval forces. With the beginning of Operation Desert Storm on January 17, the battleship commenced launching Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iraqi targets. Twelve days later, Missouri moved inshore and used its 16 guns to shell an Iraqi command and control facility near the Saudi Arabia-Kuwait border. Over the next several days,  the battleship, along with its sister, USS Wisconsin (BB-64) attacked Iraqi beach defenses as well as targets near Khafji. Moving north on February 23, Missouri continued striking targets ashore as part of the coalition amphibious feint against the Kuwaiti coast.   In the course of the operation, the Iraqis fired two HY-2 Silkworm missiles at the battleship, neither of which found their target. As military operations ashore moved out of range of Missouris guns, the battleship commenced patrolling the northern Persian Gulf. Remaining on station through the armistice of February 28, it finally departed the region on March 21.   Following stops in Australia, Missouri arrived at Pearl Harbor the following month and played a role in the ceremonies honoring the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack that December. Final Days With the conclusion of the Cold War and the end of the threat posed by the Soviet Union, Missouri was decommissioned at Long Beach, CA on March 31, 1992. Returned to Bremerton, the battleship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register three years later. Though groups in Puget Sound desired to keep Missouri there as a museum ship, the US Navy elected to have the battleship placed in Pearl Harbor where it would serve as a symbol of the end of World War II. Towed to Hawaii in 1998, it was moored next to Ford Island and the remains of USS Arizona (BB-39). A year later, Missouri it opened as a museum ship. Sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: USS MissouriBattleship Missouri MemorialHistorynet: USS Missouri

Human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Human resource management - Essay Example However, in the modern sense, this definition does not hold valid any more. Significant competitive pressures, advancements in technology, privatizations and mergers have forced companies to continually enhance their systems and human resource skills. As a result, a â€Å"secure† job one day would not be considered secure the next day. Additionally, increased requirements of productivity and new conditions make jobs redundant while creating space for new jobs with new or enhanced skill sets. J.D. Wallance has highlighted these very factors and offered a solution that remains beyond the realm of a single job position. He has emphasized that the initiative for retraining for career protection lies with the individual and not with the company this person works for as â€Å"very few companies† focus on â€Å"necessary training† for employees. In his assessment, in the face of fast paced changes in work environments, employees have a choice between â€Å"being left behind† by stagnating their knowledge or open up new options for themselves in the job market by having more current skill sets. It is not always possible to fully predict whether a certain newly acquired skill would result in career advancement and success or not. For example, back when Internet was still not widely available in the commercial domain, fully assessing its impact on the global economy was not easy. Training in Internet technologies at that time could be termed a calculated guess which paid off in the long run. Extending the same example, anyone restricting oneself to HTML technology may have limited the options for growth. Newer technologies on the horizon, still untested and many far different from each other, could still provide a more certain chance of success compared with doing nothing. The subjectivity mentioned earlier is introduced by potential failure as in the example in the text. However, one must first analyze the