Character Analysis in Louis Nowra's Play, Cosi
Cosi
Character analysis
Lewis
- Protagonist of the play
- 21 years old
- Lives in Northcote, a very poor area, near an abattoir
- Has left university and is searching for work. “I need money” pg.1
- Lives with his girlfriend Lucy and friend Nick
- At first, he shares the same values as his friends Nick and Lucy, that love is unimportant due to the ongoing Vietnam War.
- He finds work at a mental asylum
- He begins work with lack of confidence and scared of the patients, but his confidence grows throughout the play
- By the end of the play he learns to appreciate love and friendship over war and politics.
Lucy
- Lewis’ girlfriend
- Has an affair with Nick
- 20-23 years old
- Doing a MA thesis
- Passionate protestor of the Vietnam war
- Not supportive of Lewis directing the patients
- She supports free love and believes that sleeping with Nick is not a big problem.
Nick
- 21-24 years old
- Doing a thesis and directs student productions
- Nicks friend and having sex with Lucy
- Very politically active
- Very selfish always wants something in return
- Heavily involved in the moratorium, a protest against the Vietnam War.
Cherry
- 25-35 years old
- Has been in institutions for some time
- Has a violent relationship with Doug
- She has aggressively romantic feelings towards Lewis
- Has a flick knife which represents her cold sharp nature
- She is cut off from the world, doesn’t know about the Vietnam War
- Jealous of Lewis and Julie
Doug
- Pyromaniac, likes fires
- 20-30 years old
- Has not been in institutions for very long
- He likes to ask personal questions
- Sexually frank
- Impulsive
- Can’t be contained
- Continuous escapes
- Seeks extreme sensations
Roy
- 40-50 years old
- A mental patient who has spent much of his life in institutions
- Suffering from manic depression
- Has a passion for theatre and is the one who decides to play Cosi
- He grew up moving from orphanages and foster
Character analysis
Lewis
- Protagonist of the play
- 21 years old
- Lives in Northcote, a very poor area, near an abattoir
- Has left university and is searching for work. “I need money” pg.1
- Lives with his girlfriend Lucy and friend Nick
- At first, he shares the same values as his friends Nick and Lucy, that love is unimportant due to the ongoing Vietnam War.
- He finds work at a mental asylum
- He begins work with lack of confidence and scared of the patients, but his confidence grows throughout the play
- By the end of the play he learns to appreciate love and friendship over war and politics.
Lucy
- Lewis’ girlfriend
- Has an affair with Nick
- 20-23 years old
- Doing a MA thesis
- Passionate protestor of the Vietnam war
- Not supportive of Lewis directing the patients
- She supports free love and believes that sleeping with Nick is not a big problem.
Nick
- 21-24 years old
- Doing a thesis and directs student productions
- Nicks friend and having sex with Lucy
- Very politically active
- Very selfish always wants something in return
- Heavily involved in the moratorium, a protest against the Vietnam War.
Cherry
- 25-35 years old
- Has been in institutions for some time
- Has a violent relationship with Doug
- She has aggressively romantic feelings towards Lewis
- Has a flick knife which represents her cold sharp nature
- She is cut off from the world, doesn’t know about the Vietnam War
- Jealous of Lewis and Julie
Doug
- Pyromaniac, likes fires
- 20-30 years old
- Has not been in institutions for very long
- He likes to ask personal questions
- Sexually frank
- Impulsive
- Can’t be contained
- Continuous escapes
- Seeks extreme sensations
Roy
- 40-50 years old
- A mental patient who has spent much of his life in institutions
- Suffering from manic depression
- Has a passion for theatre and is the one who decides to play Cosi
- He grew up moving from orphanages and foster