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Cosi Essay Dale Tilley

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Cosi Essay Dale Tilley
How Successful Has Lois Nowra Been in
Challenging the Significant Ideas of Love, Fidelity, Sanity and Insanity in Cosi?

In the play Cosi Louis Nowra challenges the important themes of love, fidelity, sanity and insanity within a range of dramatic techniques. Cosi is set in Melbourne, during the early 1970’s. Numerous political and radical events were occurring. The Vietnam War protest was raging, the sexual revolution was rolling, and mental illness was still misunderstood and mistreated. Due to these contexts, love, fidelity, sanity and insanity are big issues that surface throughout the play. Nowra comments on society’s issues. Firstly, he uses dialogue to convey the characters various thoughts and feelings towards these issues. Secondly, he uses symbols to comment on the treatment of mental patients. Thirdly, Nowra uses conflict to discuss the issues that are faced by society. Finally, Nowra uses character development to portray a shift in attitudes towards the issues. By examining these dramatic techniques, we are able to see how Nowra challenges the ideas of love, fidelity, sanity and insanity.

One of the main and most important themes explored in Cosi is the question of love and fidelity. In Cosi, this issue is portrayed as a sore point for the characters, as most of them have split feelings about this topic and have very strong, different views. This is shown in Act 1 Scene 2 by Doug who says" Women like to pretend they don’t play around but they’re 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. While Julie thinks that love is "being foolish and stupid". Nowra uses these comments to show the characters feelings and thoughts towards love and fidelity. Another technique utilised in the play is conflict, in the context of love and fidelity, the topic ignites conflict between characters and the clash of conflicting views.

Love is defined as an intense feeling

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