Henry is a character who develops dramatically throughout the play, from being non-speaking and submissive, to r

The way in which characters are developed or left static helps the reader or viewer to understand the main issues of society’s perception of the mentally ill and attitudes toward the Vietnam War. These days, one in five people will develop a mental illness, so this understanding of the patients in Cosi is important, and we can relate it to how we treat each other in our society. This is similar with the attitudes displayed by the patients and Nick and Lucy toward the Vietnam War. These days, the war against Iraq is looming near, and people all over the world are protesting against it, trying to achieve peace, just as Lucy and Nick were, but there are also people who can be associated with Henry, people who think that it is best to go to war to prevent harm coming to the rest of the world. Nowra has carefully constructed the characters of Henry, Lewis, Nick and Lucy to give the reader or viewer a strong understanding of how mentally ill people are and should be perceived, and presents different ideas and attitudes toward the Vietnam War, whilst being able to engage the reader or viewer in this play.

Lewis is the director of the play, and is hesitant at first due to the fact that these people are mad, but as his character develops, he finds that they are normal people, with some different needs. In the beginning, Lewis only takes up the position as director for the money that will result. This is seen in a negative manner, and reader or viewer is given the impression that Lewis classes himself far away from these people, showing the lack of acceptance in society of the mentally ill. This is also shown on page 2, when Roy introduces himself to Lewis as a patient whilst Nick and Lucy are present. As soon as this is known to Nick and Lucy that Roy is a patient, they quickly find an excuse to leave, despite having promised to help Lewis with the play. In this instance, Nick and Lucy represent society outside the asylum, and demonstrate this negative attitude toward the mentally ill. The first time that Lewis really views the patients as normal people is during his conversation with Julie, a drug addict, from page 32 to 33. Julie engages Lewis in conversation of men’s attitudes toward women. Previous to that, Lewis talks of his girlfr

Some topics in this essay:
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