Cosi

Mental illnesses were seen by society as a negative form of difference and so mental illness patients have continuously 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 mental illness patients is shown. A contrast of dark and light is created from the stage direction at the opening of scene one, “It is day outside but pitch black inside the theatre.” This dark verse light theme is introduced and developed throughout the first scene. At a more figurative level, this contrast can be perceived to represent the insanity within the asylum and the sanity outside. A stereotypical view of the asylum as being filled with mad people is created.

Mistreatment of the mental illness patients can be seen from Justin’s quote “Coat of paint and it’ll be fine” and the stage direction that describe the theatre ‘burnt out’ and ‘pitch black’. These quotes emphasize how minimal effort and care goes into helping the patients. The lights symbolise Lewis’s entrance into a new world with Lucy and Nick, a world of madness and insanity with the mental patients. This stage direction and dialogue tells the audience about how minimal the patients care about there facilities which can symbolise their lives inside the asylum.

The burnt out theatre is an extended metaphor for everything, including the patients’ lives, being broken. From Nicks quote, “smells like it hasn’t been used in years,” a visual image of an old, abandoned theatre is created and the audience is lead to believe that theatrical practices are not a part of the patients lives