BlogEnglishThe Comprehensive Guide to Cosi by Louis Nowra (1992): Plot, Context, Themes & Essay Topics
The Comprehensive Guide to Cosi by Louis Nowra (1992): Plot, Context, Themes & Essay Topics
Focusing on the play Cosi by Louis Nowra for English but have no idea where to start with your analysis? 😫
Don’t stress! We’ve got you covered with our in-depth guide on the play, including a summary of Così, key characters, context, themes and more.
As a former student with who consistently received A range marks in English, I’m here to help guide you through the key ideas of the text and show you how to analyse it.
Setting: Così is physically set in a dilapidated theatre impacted by fire damage. However, there is also a symbolic element to this setting:
“The burnt out stage is a metaphor for the world at large, and the drama which is enacted on its charred surface is a reflection of the larger drama taking place outside.”
Roy: A manic-depressive with a passion for theatre, often dreaming of grandeur and perfection.
Cherry: An outspoken woman who suffers from binge eating. She enjoys playing with knives and harbours an intense, romantic fixation on Lewis.
Ruth: An obsessive-compulsive patient who has difficulties distinguishing between reality and illusion.
Doug: A pyromaniac who enjoys chaos and has a predilection for making inappropriate sexual jokes.
Julie: A kind but guarded woman struggling with drug dependency. She develops an intimate relationship with Lewis throughout the play but dies from an overdose a year later.
Henry: A reserved, older ex-lawyer who has a strong stutter. He is deeply withdrawn and hesitant to engage with others.
Zac: A lethargic pianist, dulled by medication, who still contributes musically to the group’s efforts.
Other Characters:
Lewis: A university student and aspiring director, Lewis takes on the job of directing a play at a mental institution, where his interactions with the patients challenge his passive idealism and force him to confront his beliefs about love, loyalty and the value of art in adversity.
Justin: A pragmatic social worker who oversees the patients and their activities.
Lucy: Lewis’s girlfriend, whose political activism overshadows her emotional connection with him.
Nick: Lewis’s manipulative and outspoken best friend, who prioritises radical left-wing ideals over genuine empathy.
Key Themes:
Illusion VS reality
Loyalty
Love and relationships
Mental health
War and activism
Key Symbols:
Fire: Represents destruction, passion and chaos, often tied to Doug’s rebellious nature.
Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte: Symbolises the complexities of love and fidelity, reflecting the characters’ relationships.
Light and Darkness: Highlights the contrast between reality and illusion and represents Lewis’ character arc in overcoming his blind idealism.
Main Message:
Così explores the complexities of love, loyalty and human connection, highlighting how individuals confront their personal challenges and ideals in the face of adversity and mental illness.
Who is Louis Nowra?
Louis Nowra (real name Mark Doyle) is an Australian playwright born in 1950.
He had a troubled childhood as both his parents were emotionally abusive, with his mother verbally insulting him and degrading him by forcing him to wear his sister’s dresses as punishment.
This personal experience fostered compassion for others who have experienced trauma and abuse, contributing to his empathetic, humanising perspective on people who are mentally ill.
He also cheated on his first wife, which likely formed his cynical perspective on fidelity.
Although not directly biographical, Così derives from some elements of lived experience, primarily with Nowra being a young adult during the Vietnam War.
During that time, he directly experienced the youthful idealism of wanting to stand up to injustice and the pressure to dedicate yourself entirely to the cause deemed as the most urgent or socially significant.
The plot also draws upon his struggles as a young director with managing difficult personalities and trying to turn the cast’s collective artistic vision into a reality.
Play Summary of Cosi by Louis Nowra
The play opens with three main characters meeting each other in what remains of a run-down, destitute theatre. Lewis, his girlfriend Lucy and their friend Nick are greeted out of the blue by a mentally ill man, Roy, as they try and fail to turn on the lights.
Justin, a social worker, also greets the three friends. It’s revealed that Lewis was hired by Justin to direct a play where the cast is made up of mentally ill patients.
Other mentally ill patients are introduced here — three men and three women. The men are Henry, Zac and Doug, although the latter is the most significant, as he was sent to the asylum for having set his mother’s cat on fire.
The three women are Julie, Cherry and Ruth, with substance addiction, binge eating and obsessive-compulsive behaviour issues respectively.
Roy suggests they try to perform the opera ‘Così Fan Tutte’ (literally “all women are like that”) despite Lewis having doubts about the success.
The opera is about two men who test the fidelity of their wives by dressing up as Albanian Soldiers and trying to seduce the other’s partner. The women succumb to their advances, prompting the two men to reveal their true identities.
While rehearsing, a fire is discovered in an underground passage in the theatre. Cherry tries to strangle Doug, who discovered the fire, while Zac collapses. Despite Lewis trying to pull everyone together, the audience and Lewis realise that the patients remain unpredictable.
Lewis and Julie exchange stories, and Julie finds out that Lucy is more preoccupied with the controversial Vietnam War than with her relationship with Lewis.
After Doug is admitted to a closed ward for starting another fire, Nick accuses Lewis of spending too much time trying to make the play work instead of focusing on the Vietnam War, which both Nick and Lucy are more interested in.
Lewis and Julie share a kiss as they get closer to each other on an emotional level, while the other patients improve in terms of behaviour due to their involvement in the play. This is a positive step for Lewis, who refuses to go to an anti-war march with Lucy and stays with the patients.
Lucy and Lewis have an argument when Lucy learns that he kissed Julie. Lewis then learns that Nick and Lucy have been having an affair since he started working on the play, events that parallel the plot of Così Fan Tutte.
The conflict escalates until the opening night when Nick confronts Lewis. Lewis punches Nick, ending their friendship indefinitely.
The patients explain the benefits of participating in the play. Lewis, however, is the one who has benefited the most through his personal journey of abandoning blind idealism and embracing compassion.
In the end, Lewis describes what happened to all the characters in the following year. The most tragic outcome is that Julie passed away from an overdose after leaving the institute.
Key Characters in the Play ‘Cosi’
Lewis
Lewis starts out as an idealist who just wants to help people, a significant reason why activism about the Vietnam War is something he is involved in.
After seeing the results he has with his theatre production, he realises the fulfilment he derives from helping people get better in terms of their mental and physical health. When Lucy and Nick try to prevent him from succeeding and unjustly accuse him of not caring about ‘real’ issues and being a “right-wing nut,” he chooses his passion for theatre and directly helping others over continuing his relationships with them.
Nick
As passionate as Lucy about the injustice of the Vietnam War, Nick sees Lewis as his best friend initially. The key difference between Nick and Lewis is that Nick does not see the patients as equal human beings to him.
Therefore he diminishes the importance of Lewis’ work with mentally disabled people, deeming it inferior to the activism that he and Lucy engage in. This is why an affair develops between the two, and why Nick ultimately ends his friendship with Lewis.
Lucy
Lucy mirrors Nick in that she is unable to see the importance of helping people on an interpersonal level.
She has the potential to actively impact and change people’s lives for the better but misdirects her passion onto issues she has no control over. This key ethical difference results in her breakup with Lewis.
Julie
Julie is a patient who forms an intimate relationship with Lewis, but their connection is complicated by Julie’s emotional volatility and her aspirations. She is also deeply involved in the play’s production, contrasting her artistic ambitions with her personal insecurities.
Her eventual death by overdose is a cruel fact of life that Lewis has to accept, despite him trying his best to help her, contributing to him surmounting his idealistic tendencies.
Doug
Doug is a pyromaniac who starts two fires during the play. His erratic behaviour and use of degrading language and sexual innuendos reveals how mentally unstable people can be destructive to themselves and people around them. This helps to overturn Lewis’ sheltered perspective, allowing him to develop greater understanding and empathy toward misfortuned individuals, rather than focusing on large-scale issues he cannot directly impact.
Context
The play draws heavily on the context of the Vietnam War, and the socio-political climate during those years.
Both Lucy and Nick embody the public outrage and resistance typical of those years when individuals were protesting against the violence and futility of the war and Australia’s participation in it.
The play focuses on how such events practically overshadowed other social problems and marginalised groups, such as those who were mentally ill.
We see that Lewis considers the adversity experienced by mentally ill people to be a poignant issue worthy of attention, whilst his friends neglect it entirely as anti-war activism is their sole focus.
There are three main elements related to this theme in Così. One of them is the metatheatrical incorporation of the opera “Così fan tutte” which explores fidelity in relationships and how it is often rare and somewhat hard to ask for in reality.
The second is the relationship dynamics wherein Lucy ends up betraying Lewis for Nick, and Lewis ends up falling for Julie.
This further represents Nowra’s perception that fidelity and everlasting love are idealistic constructs that defy the capricious nature of humanity.
Lastly, the theme of loyalty also manifests as fidelity to a cause. Lucy and Nick part ways with Lewis because they believe that Lewis has ‘betrayed’ the cause they all cared about (the Vietnam War) for a cause that was just as worthy to him.
Reality VS Illusion
This dichotomy is first represented through the metatheatrical structure of Così aka a play within a play.
This is done intentionally by the playwright to blur the lines between what is true and what is not — a fact that links to the context of the play in a significant way.
Misinformation, government lies, lobbying and self-interest were prevalent during the Vietnam War, causing frustration in the population.
This atmosphere of confusion, disorder and trying to make sense of contrasting information is reflected in the line: “I can handle something being an illusion or real but not at the same time.”
This theme is also explored through characterisation, primarily Lewis’ character arc of overcoming his idealistic nature.
Like his friends, Lewis starts out thinking he can change the entire world by himself.
However, this turns out to be illusory thinking, as he comes to appreciate that people close to him need help and that doing a little for them makes a huge difference.
Mental Health
Cosi explores the stigma surrounding mental health in 1970s Australia, emphasising society’s tendency to marginalise those with psychological conditions.
The patients’ individuality is highlighted through their unique personalities and struggles, challenging the audience to see beyond their illnesses and recognise their humanity.
The dehumanising attitudes of Lucy and Nick also reflect broader prejudices against mental health as it is often dismissed as a personal issue that is inconsequential to society as a whole.
This reductive and offensive view of the patients is portrayed through the use of objectifying language that deprives them of their individuality, as shown in the quote: “This experiment was to bring them out of their shells, not to allow them to wreak havoc.”
By juxtaposing the patients’ struggles with moments of humour and resilience, Nowra reframes mental health as a spectrum of experiences that are often entwined with relatable, everyday struggles, rather than a reason for exclusion or pity.
Love
In Cosi, Louis Nowra examines love as a multifaceted and often contradictory force, highlighting both its idealistic and destructive aspects.
Lewis and Lucy’s relationship reveals the tension between romantic ideals and pragmatic realities, with infidelity and differing values eroding their emotional connection.
This cynical perspective toward fidelity is reflected in the line: “women’s constancy is like the Phoenix of Arabia. Everyone swears it exists but no one has seen it.”
Lewis and Julie’s relationship also challenges conventional notions of love as purely idyllic or redemptive as, despite his emotional support and desire to help her, she succumbs to her addiction and overdoses.
War and Activism
Così juxtaposes the broader societal issues of war and activism during the Vietnam War era with the personal struggles of the patients, reflecting the disconnect between public and private spheres.
Characters like Nick and Lucy embody the fervour of activism, yet their commitment to human rights often appears performative or hypocritical, as seen in their dismissal of the patients’ humanity.
Lewis’s journey highlights the tension between political idealism and personal responsibility, as his experiences with the patients challenge his alignment with Nick’s radical views.
Potential Essay Topics on Cosi
Now that you know all the key themes, you have an idea of what you might be asked about in essay questions. Below is a list of sample theses to give you an idea of how to structure your response:
Louis Nowra’s play Così uses complex characterisation to humanise mental illness and foster empathy by challenging stereotypes that individuals with mental illness are defined solely by their conditions.
It is to a substantial extent that Louis Nowra’s play Così challenges conventional views on love through representing infidelity and dysfunction as inherent to relationships, thus subverting the ideal of commitment in the face of adversity.
In Louis Nowra’s play Così, the use of dramatic irony significantly enhances the audience’s understanding of self-discovery by highlighting the contrast between characters’ perceptions and their reality, ultimately revealing the transformative power of self-awareness and acceptance.
In Louis Nowra’s play Così, the contextual backdrop of the Vietnam War exposes how conflict fractures human relationships and challenges personal identity, as characters grapple with differing perceptions of activism and the war’s role in their lives.
Through exploring the transformative power of interpersonal relationships, Louis Nowra’s play Così highlights how acceptance of individual differences and understanding of mental health challenges societal perceptions and fosters personal growth.
Louis Nowra’s play Così creates an interplay between intimacy and instability, wherein characters navigate their own vulnerabilities and the chaotic environment of the theatre, to examine the complexities of human relationships in times of internal and external turmoil.
Louis Nowra’s play Così explores the interplay between self-serving human motivation and conformity to social causes, revealing the struggle for self-actualisation amongst oppressive societal expectations.
Louis Nowra’s play Così contrasts reality and illusion to explore the characters’ desires as they grapple with their own perceptions and the harsh truths of reality, ultimately highlighting the tension between their aspirations and the constraints of their environment.
Cosi Sample Play Analysis in 3 Steps
Step 1: Choose your example
Remember there are three key things you need to identify in your example:
Stylistic devices: how images and words are arranged in a text to create meaning.
Thematic analysis: what the author is trying to convey about a certain topic.
Contextual references: background information about the author’s personal life and environment as well as historical details about the events of the play.
Incorporating these elements strengthens your interpretation and demonstrates a deeper understanding of the text, which is essential for achieving higher marks.
For me, when I’m choosing an example, I make sure it’s something that gives me a lot to talk about. If the only thing I can identify is that the author uses alliteration, it will probably be really difficult to link it to anything deeper like thematic analysis and contextual details.
Just paste in any quote and Artie will instantly identify multiple techniques and analyse what they represent:
Step 2: Connect your example to a key theme
I personally find it helpful to make a list of all the key themes first so I can organise my quotes based on what theme they connect to, which makes it a lot easier to find relevant examples for your essay.
To show you how a quote connects to a theme, let’s use the line: “I can’t stand reality. If I could put up with reality I wouldn’t be in here.”
You can find a whole range of quotes from Così Louis Nowra here!
This line explicitly invokes the theme of reality versus illusion as Zac is making reference to his mental illness and how it helps him escape the difficulties of real life.
During a time of social upheaval, this is very significant. It signals to Lewis that reality is much more brutal than he understands. This is also one of the instances where Lewis learns to detach from his idealism.
Step 3: Write the analysis
Always be ready to ask yourself what the author intended you to feel/consider when reading the example quote. This will make sure that you tackle an important part of the analysis, which is the effect on the reader.
Here’s an example of what a detailed analysis looks like:
Nowra uses juxtaposition to explore the dichotomy between reality and illusion, revealing the harsh truths of existence to his idealistic protagonist, Lewis. In a confrontation with Zac, the stark contrast between Lewis’s naive optimism and Zac’s cynical outlook is highlighted through Zac’s dialogue: ‘I can’t stand reality. If I could put up with reality, I wouldn’t be in here.’ His blunt tone underscores the escapism that defines many of the patients’ lives as it’s their only means of solace within a society that marginalises them for psychological issues beyond their control. This draws upon the context of 1970s Australia where mental health was still greatly stigmatised, as reflected in the demeaning attitudes of Lucy and Nick.
After writing, I always make sure to review my paragraph to check that I’ve answered the question. If I feel like I’m going off on a tangent, I try to rewrite my analysis using some key words from the question to make it more focused.
Even if you’ve written an incredible essay, if you don’t respond to the question or stimulus that you’re given in an exam, you could miss out on a Band 6.
Luckily for you, we’ve got plenty of practice questions on our resources page for you to use!
If you’re practising under timed conditions and can’t get the essay done before time’s up, don’t worry!
While it’s still good practice for time management, it doesn’t accurately reflect the pressure of exam conditions. I never finished a practice essay on time, but I always finished my exams with a few minutes to spare.
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Christina Ugov is currently completing a double degree in International and Global Studies and Theatre and Performance at the University of Sydney. Outside of her studies, she enjoys exploring creative writing projects, analysing literature and playing with her cat. She spends her spare time reading, listening to music and drinking lots of tea.
Vittorio Manessi is an Art of Smart tutor based in Queensland studying environmental science. He was one of the first Year 12 students to study under the new ATAR system in Queensland. He enjoys Maths, Science, English and Ancient History and is keen to share his knowledge of the QCE by making awesome resources.
