28 pages • 56 minutes read
Suzan-Lori ParksTopdog/Underdog
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks focuses on the lives of African American brothers Lincoln and Booth, reflecting on their familial and personal struggles after being abandoned by their parents. Lincoln, a former hustler turned Abraham Lincoln impersonator, and Booth, who idolizes his brother's past, navigate their fraught relationship in a grim, conflict-laden environment. This play contains themes of racism, violence, and abandonment.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks is lauded for its compelling dialogue and complex exploration of sibling rivalry and identity. Critics praise Parks's sharp, lyrical writing and the depth of her characters. However, some have noted that the play's intensity and occasionally bleak tone might not appeal to all audiences. Overall, it is a powerful, provocative work.
Who Should Read Topdog/Underdog?
A reader who enjoys Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks likely appreciates intense character studies, themes of sibling rivalry, and the exploration of identity and destiny. Fans of August Wilson’s Fences or Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun will find similar depth and power in Parks’s work.