The 1992 comedic play ‘Cosi’‚ written by Australian prolific writer‚ Louis Nowra‚ is a play set in 1971 at a mental institution situated in Melbourne. The central protagonist‚ Lewis Riley‚ a young inexperienced director‚ endeavours to direct the inmates in a performance of Mozart’s opera‚ ‘Cosi Fan Tutte.’ Throughout ‘Cosi’‚ Nowra displays characters that are characterised as normal‚ but display rare various degrees of “insanity”. Over the course of the play‚ the playwright has encouraged his audience
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been stereotyped and marginalised by society throughout there lives. The mistreatment of mental illness patients has been displayed throughout the play Cosi. The mental characters from the play create a theme of madness through there different personalities and quirks. The theme; mental illness and madness are developed for the audience by Louis Nowra’s choice of stage directions‚ dialogue‚ conflicts and symbolism. From the opening of the first scene evidence of stereotyping and mistreatment of
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How does Nowra portray the idea that ‘madness’ is a matter of perspective? Throughout the play ‘Cosi’‚ the audience witness the lives of mentally ill people unfold before them. Louis Nowra uses black comedy and a play-within-a-play structure to force the audience to see the characters as “normal people who have done extraordinary things” rather than just their mental illnesses. Ecplored though the actions of the government in the Vietnamese war that lead to strong anti-war attitudes and a seemingly
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Through the structuring of the play within the play in Cosi‚ Louis Nowra uses the characters of Lucy and Nick to be an example of sexual love within the playwright. The basis of their relationship as we learn in the end is only sexual‚ which enables sexual love to become a major theme within the play. When Lucy openly admits that she has “sex” with Nick‚ and “sleeps” with Lewis‚ it creates a contrast of opinion with Lewis’‚ and furthermore creates conflict between the three characters. This shows
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How has Louis Nowra Communicated Unique Ideas in his drama Cosi? Louis Nowra’s play‚ Cosi‚ is set in the 1970s‚ during the Vietnam War. The setting is in a mental institution. It was written in 1992. Cosi explores a range of ideas and attitudes towards mental illness‚ such as the stereotypical view that mental patients are dangerous and should be kept locked away. Another is that they are like a lot of other people who are considered “normal”. But the stereotypical view is generally the constant
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Do you think the characters in Cosi have changed for the better? The characters in Cosi by the end of the play change. Lewis‚ Henry and Zac are prime examples of how identities are inevitably shaped by the groups to which they belong. Lewis finally shows himself to be a man‚ Henry comes out of his shell and Zac starts his own band. Zac’s introduction to the reader as a medical patient who is unable to effectively communicate with the others makes him appear to be shy person. Most of the time
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Nowra’s play is set in a ‘burnt out theatre’. Discuss the importance of setting and imagery in conveying Nowra’s idea on ’Cosi’. The setting and imagery used in Louis Nowra’s play ‘Cosi’ explore the turbulent time that took part in Australia. The play is set in a mental institution in Melbourne‚ in the 1970’s. Using the ominous presence of the Vietnam War‚ Nowra explores the insanity of the war; and the need to condemn war and to protest against Australia’s involvement in Vietnam. The main presence
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In Cosi‚ Nowra uses several recurring language techniques and devices to create various: Symbols and motifs are often ideas‚ items‚ actions‚ sounds or sights which occur in a play which represent an idea which is reinforces the writer’s message. moods tones Atmospheres Or to emphasis: a situation‚ an important point or moment in the plot‚ setting‚ character‚ or idea in the play A stereotype An alternate perspective Symbols Burnt-out theatre The setting of a burnt-out theatre
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Themes One of the main themes of Cosi is the question of love and fidelity. This is shown in Act 1 Scene Two when Doug‚ who hates women‚ says: " Women like to pretend they dont play around but theyre just more secretive about it." Cherry and Ruth are very negative about sex‚ stating that most women work hard to keep men out of their pants. Julie thinks that love is "being foolish and stupid". Also the play that Lewis is directing‚ Cosi Fan tutte is all about love and fidelity. Lewis is also questioning
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Louis Nowra’s screenplay ‘Cosi’ explores the attitudes to and perception of the mentally ill in 1971. During this period Australia is at war and undergoing social reform. The perception of mental patients in the 70s can be seen as unethical and inhumane‚ with society grouping them with animals and locking them away in asylums with barbaric conditions. The 70s saw mental illness being neglected and kept in the dark and with movies that depict ‘mad’ people as animals; a negative connotation is placed
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