Necessary Targets: characters

Overview of Characters in Necessary Targets

Melissa and J.S.

Melissa is a fiercely ambitious journalist, naïve to the realities of war, seeking to gather stories of Bosnian women for a book.
J.S. is a well-established psychiatrist who joins Melissa, believing she can help these women overcome their trauma.

The Bosnian Women

The Bosnian women are a diverse array of characters, each with their own unique stories, traumas and coping mechanisms.

Azra

Azra is an elderly Bosnian woman who represents the traditional, rural aspect of Bosnia. She clings to her memories of her past and her land as a way of coping.

Jelena

Jelena uses alcohol as a means to escape her reality and is desperately in denial about her husband’s fidelity during the war.

Seada

Seada is a young, traumatised girl who clings to a baby doll after losing her own child. Her trauma is the most visible in the group.

Nuna

Nuna is a young, sophisticated urban woman who is angry and bitter about the opportunities and life she has lost to the war.

Zlata

Zlata is a doctor and the most educated of the group. She acts as an unofficial leader to the group, calling J.S. and Melissa out on their naïvety.

Character Relationships in Necessary Targets

Melissa and J.S. Relationship

Initially, J.S. and Melissa clash due to their different attitudes. However, as the play progresses, they find common ground and form a genuine bond.

Relationships Amongst Bosnian Women

Despite their varied backgrounds and coping mechanisms, the Bosnian women form a sisterhood, aiding each other through shared experiences.
The conflicts and arguments intensify their relationships and highlight their individual struggles.

Bosnian Women and Melissa and J.S.

The Bosnian women, especially Zlata, are sceptical and resentful of Melissa and J.S.’s efforts, viewing them as naïve outsiders.
However, as Melissa and J.S. come to better understand the women and their experiences, they earn a degree of respect and form deeper connections.

Character Development in Necessary Targets

Melissa and J.S. Development

Both Melissa and J.S. undergo a transformation in their understanding of war’s impact and their conceptions of help and healing.

Development of Bosnian Women

Ensler allows each character to undergo her own unique journey, with some finding some form of release or acceptance, and others continuing with their mechanisms of coping or denial.

Remember to consider each character’s unique journey and their relationships with each other when studying Necessary Targets. By understanding these characters and their development, you explore the depth of their experiences and their humanity in the face of a brutal war.