Friday the thirteenth' to exemplify the danger that the women were in by mentioning to a superstitious event. Injustice committed is shown in the play by both the British and the Japanese to allow the audience to understand that they are equally hostile. Misto effectively shapes our perception on the injustice of war through distinctively visual techniques to portray the mistreatment by both nations and to show how no one is safe.
The play outlines the struggle to survive which is shown through the brutality of the camp, but also through mateship Bridie and Sheila survive through the battles, ultimately through Sheila's sacrifice they both survive. Music 'Jerusalem'- Misto uses music and song lyrics to create imagery that allows us to visualise the women's determination to survive. "I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand till we had built Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land." They will not go down without a fight- so song lyrics are used to paint visual images that capture the women's strength of character. The play also demonstrates how they survive, despite these humiliating conditions. "We'd chew on this every night before bed. We called it old reliable." The chop bone is a visual symbol- it provides them with no nourishment, but emotional comfort which assisted with their ultimate survival. Also paints a visual image of the women reduced to animals, chewing on bones. The stage direction, 'SHEILA takes the shoe-horn out of the drawer and throws it on the bed' indicates Bridie's anagnorisis about Shelia self-sacrifice during the Japanese invasion. Bridie's eloquent announcement that Sheila in the imagery '. a beautiful, kind and brave young women. she is – the other half of my life' portrays her love for her friend and their reconciliation is shown through the visual of the stage direction 'Squeezes Sheila's hand and tries to smile gently' demonstrating to the audience the strength of their relationship and hence showing that surviving throughout the war depended on friendship and loyalty.