Topdog/Underdog Questions and Answers
Topdog/Underdog
What is the significance of the 3-card monte hustle in Topdog/Underdog?
Booth tries to find a stable family by stealing and trying to impress Grace. Lincoln lives the game of 3-Card Monte, deceiving people for a living.
Topdog/Underdog
What political or social issues does Topdog/Underdog address?
Parks addresses the social issues of poverty and frustration, which lead to despair, despair that drives a person away from legitimate means (a job) and towards illegitimate means (hustling). The...
Topdog/Underdog
Who is the protagonist in Topdog/Underdog?
The protagonist in "Topdog/Underdog" is arguably Lincoln, due to his psychological depth and progression throughout the play. Lincoln is relatable as he strives to improve his life and find purpose,...
Topdog/Underdog
What does Suzan-Lori Parks imply by naming her characters Lincoln and Booth in Topdog/Underdog?
The playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is saying that Lincoln and Booth, the African American characters in Topdog/Underdog, are modeled after historic figures Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. The...
Topdog/Underdog
In Topdog/Underdog, what is the central conflict between the characters?
The central conflict between the characters of Topdog/Underdog revolves around who ultimately deserves the position of top-dog in their relationship. It is not resolved on a superficial level. The...
Topdog/Underdog
What is unique about the play Topdog/Underdog?
Topdog/Underdog is unique because it explores race relations as an internal, intra-racial issue rather than focusing on external racial conflict. Unlike plays like A Raisin in the Sun, it centers on...
Topdog/Underdog
What role do the brothers' given names play in contrast to Booth's adopted name "3-Card"?
One could say that Booth is the younger brother and Lincoln is the older brother. Lincoln gives him a job and helps him, but Booth resents it. When he gets his chance to show off, he fails and then...