Cosi

In the play ‘Cosi’ by Louis Nowra there are many themes and issues explored. Two themes addressed are love and madness. Through characterisation, dialogue, setting and the contrast between mental patients and outsiders we are able to grasp the concept of these themes. Louis Nowra gives many of the characters there own view about the importance of love. As the almost outsiders Lucy and Nick’s opinions of love are quite cynical. “Only mad people in this day and age would do a work about love and infidelity.” Lucy believes “love is an emotional indulgence for the privileged few.” In contrast the patients have a much simpler view on love. As their views reflect onto Lewis as his ideas of love become important “without love the world wouldn’t mean much.” Louis Nowra has characterised each patient to have their own definition of love. Doug confuses love and sex and is unable to express any real caring for anyone. He believes in free love “make love not war, eh'” Roy’s opinion of love is that “love is what you feel when you don’t have enough emotion left to hate...” expressing that hate is a much more powerful emotion than love. “we choose our enemies with greater care than our lovers...” Julie believes that men expect women to behave in a certain way and, if they don’t, men are judgemental of them. “Men want woman to deceive them because it’ll prove their worst thoughts about women...” Julie also presents another ideal of love; and that is love for drugs. “Some people can’t imagine life without love, well I can’t imagine life without drugs” this presents the idea that love isn’t just about two people it can be expressed in any shape or form. As Cherry expresses her love through food. She continuously shoves food down Lewis’ to show she cares; as her family brings her cupcakes she associates them as a token of their love. Cherry believes Lewis needs more loving as she expresses “you’re too skinny Lewis.” Through the theme of madness Louis Nowra explores how ‘normal’ people treat the patients and how the patients see themselves. The setting of the “burnt out theatre” Nowra suggests that society does not place any value on the mentally ill and shows that society does not spend any resources on the mentally ill. Nowra characterises both Nick and Lucy to behave in an arrogant and insensitive way towards the patients. Lucy’s disregard for the patients is shown through the dialogue “working with these people has changed you.” When Nick sings “they‘re coming to take me away ha ha, to the funny farm...” Lewis actions speak louder than words of his treatment of the patients as ‘He punches Nick to the floor’. Justin’s early impersonal and pretentious comments show his lack of understanding with the patients. “They are normal people who have done extraordinary things, thought extraordinary thoughts.” As Justin refers to the patients as “them” it shows how little he really cares. Though unlike the ‘normal’ people (also could be known as the outsiders) Nowra gives the patients the ability to talk to each other with a freedom that isn’t possible for the outsiders. Nowra frequently uses the characters of the patients to bring up risky subjects like lobotomies, shock treatment, drugs and sex. Dialogue such as “Do it yourself lobotomy”, “typical junkie, needs stimulus all the time...” and “want a root” give the chance for Louis Nowra to express brutal honesty about these subjects. Through the use of exploration of characters view and opinions, setting, dialogue and the unique contrasts of characters; we are able to grasp the themes that Louis Nowra wishes us to explore. Such as the differing views and definitions of love, the treatment and understanding of mental patients and the ability of the mentally ill to break typical social behaviour.