Topdog/Underdog: Posting essay

Topdog/Underdog is definitely the best play we have read so far in this course because the play opens different perspectives on the life of brothers, who are supposed to be similar. At any rate, when one considers the life of two brothers, he/she expects them to be similar because they grow up in the similar environment, they share similar values and they are close relatives that means that they have probably inherited some common inclinations. However, the play reveals the striking difference between brothers, who look similar only at first glance. However, the play reveals the fact that they are totally different. On the one hand, Lincoln has managed to change his entire life and to choose the ‘right’ way in his life, while, on the other hand, Booth cannot cope with his problem, boosting, and cannot turn to a legal, regular job. At the same time, such a difference between two brothers has racial and social implications since the play depicts two African American men and the author, whether she is biased or not, shows two ways the society is accustomed to expect from African Americans. They should either remain criminals, as is the case of Booth, or perform low-paid, semi- or low-qualified jobs as Lincoln does. However, such a life is apparently unbearable and the play encourages the audience to think of the existing stereotypes and the extent to which they affect the consciousness of people, like Booth, who dreams of three card monte as his ideal job.