1. The rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two gangs of teenage boys from different ethnic backgrounds:
- The Jets are a white, working-class gang from the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
- The Sharks are a Puerto Rican gang from the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
2. The forbidden love between Tony, a Jet, and Maria, a Shark:
- Tony and Maria are from different social and ethnic backgrounds, and their love for each other is forbidden by their respective communities.
3. The racism and prejudice that the Puerto Ricans face from the Jets and other members of the white community:
- The Puerto Ricans are often discriminated against and treated as outsiders by the white residents of New York City.
4. The generational conflict between the older and younger generations of Puerto Ricans:
- The older generation of Puerto Ricans, like Bernardo (Maria's brother) wants to maintain their traditional Puerto Rican culture and values.
- The younger generation of Puerto Ricans, like Maria, is more assimilated into American culture and wants to break away from the traditional Puerto Rican way of life.
5. The social and economic pressures that the characters face:
- The Jets and the Sharks are both struggling to make it in a harsh and unforgiving world.
- Tony and Maria are both trying to find their place in a society that is divided by prejudice and hatred.
These conflicts all come to a head in the tragic ending of the story, when Tony is killed by Bernardo in a fight between the two gangs.