There is an engaging song in West Side Story in which the young heroine, Maria, blurts out the joy of being in love:
I feel pretty, oh, so pretty,
That the city should give me its key.
A committee
Should be organized to honor me….
Besides being pleasant, the lyric is a model of craftsmanship. It states a simple emotion, clearly and with precision, and yet it is not dry. It has a girlish lilt, a touch of humor, and, as all good lyrics should, an element of surprise—in this case a triple, mainly internal rhyme.
This is a free excerpt of 91 words. There are 365 words (approx.
1 page at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.
Read the rest of this Criticism with our Sondheim, Stephen (Joshua) 1930–: Critical Essay by William K. Zinsser Access Pass.
