Topdog/Underdog Play Characters and Summary

Topdog/Underdog is about the men who hustle cards and take money from fools. But these characters are not as slick as the con-men in David Mamet’s scripts. They are soured, worn-out, self-reflective, and on the brink of destruction. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks, Topdog/Underdog  won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002. This two-person drama is filled with gritty dialogue and age-old themes, rooted in a long tradition of fraternal rivals: Cain and Abel, Romulus and Remus, Moses and Pharaoh. The Plot and Characters Two brothers in their mid-to-late thirties struggle to eke out an existence in a shabby little rooming house. The older brother, Lincoln (also known as â€Å"Link†), was once a skilled Three-card Monte con-artist who gave it up after the untimely death of his friend. The younger brother, Booth, wants to be a big shot – but spends most of his time shoplifting and awkwardly practicing the art of card hustling. Their father named them Booth and Lincoln; it was his dismal idea of a joke. Booth talks about his many goals and dreams. He discusses his sexual conquests and his romantic frustrations. Lincoln is much lower-key. He often thinks about his past: his ex-wife, his successes as a card hustler, his parents who abandoned him when he was sixteen. Booth is impulsive throughout most of the play, sometimes reacting violently whenever frustrated or intimidated. Lincoln, on the other hand, seems to let the world step all over him. Instead of grifting, Lincoln has settled into a very odd job at a carnival arcade. For hours on end, he sits in a display box dressed as Abraham Lincoln. Because he is black, his employers insist that he wears â€Å"white-face† make-up. He sits still, reenacting the final moments of the famed president. The â€Å"real† Lincoln was assassinated by a man named Booth as he watched the play, My American Cousin ). Throughout the day, paying customers sneak up and shoot Link in the back of the head with a cap-gun. It’s a strange and morbid occupation. Link gets lured back into card hustling; he’s in his natural element when hes working the cards. Seething Sibling Rivalry Lincoln and Booth share a complex (and therefore fascinating) relationship. They constantly tease and insult one another, but alternately offer support and encouragement. They both pine over failed romantic relationships. They were both abandoned by their parents. Link practically raised Booth, and the younger brother is both envious and in awe of his elder. Despite this kinship, they often betray each other. By the play’s end, Booth graphically describes how he seduced Link’s wife. In turn, the older brother swindles Booth. And even though he promised to teach the younger brother how to throw cards, Lincoln keeps all the secrets to himself. Conclusion of "Topdog/Underdog" The inevitable conclusion is as violent as one might expect, considering the names of the two characters. In fact, there is something disturbingly voyeuristic about the final scene. The explosive ending feels very similar to the unpleasant job that poor Link has at the arcade. Perhaps the message is that we the audience are just as blood-thirsty and macabre as the carnival patrons who pretend to shoot Lincoln day after day. Throughout the play, the brothers exhibit very shady, misguided, and misogynistic characteristics. Yet, through it all, they are very human and very believable as brothers who have been through so much together. It seems the climactic violence stems not so much from a believable progression of the characters, but from the author forcing these deadly themes onto her creations. Is the ending predictable? Somewhat. Predictability is not entirely a bad thing in drama. But the playwright could give us one more throw of the cards so that we could be fooled again.

Natural Disasters And Manmade Disasters Essay - 1948 Words

Abstract Some or maybe all of us have been a part of some event that has taken place throughout their existence. The events that you or other people may have taken part in have been for enjoyment or for pleasure as for others or there are people who have gone through a series of events that has completely ruined their lives in a matter of days. Just to throw this out there, some events that could ruin people lives are natural disasters or manmade disasters, losing someone that you cared about most in this world. These events leave us looking hopeless, needing a sense of direction and a big contribution from the man upstairs. I’m here to talk to you about a natural disaster that happen just a little over 10 years ago and the event that had taken place was Hurricane Katrina. What comes to mind when we think of the word natural disaster? Well my take on it is that it’s a major adverse event resulting from the natural processes of the Earth. Natural disasters can claim prop erties, damage the economy, and can even result in death. You know as well as I know what happened in Hurricane Katrina. I went through it back in 2005. I’m here to research and provide a summary of the event, to examine the precautions (preparations) that were taken beforehand when the storm was still in the tropics, to take a look at how the local, state, and federal governments responded to the event and talk about the recovery process and where the state of Louisiana is today. Keywords: NaturalShow MoreRelatedCommunity Disaster Assessment and Planning Essay1241 Words   |  5 PagesCommunity Disaster Assessment and Planning The potential for natural and manmade disasters is a constant threat, especially in today’s world of climate change, political upheaval, and global unrest and terrorist activity. 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The threat of disaster is a global, national, stateRead MoreHow Natural Disasters Affect the Environment996 Words   |  4 PagesHow Natural Disasters Affect the Environment Authors name Authors institutional affiliation Authors note How Natural Disasters Affect the Environment A natural hazard is a geophysical, atmospheric or hydrological event (e.g., earthquake, landslide, tsunami, windstorm, flood or drought) that has the potential to cause harm or loss, while a natural disaster is the occurrence of an extreme hazardous event that impacts on communities causing damage, disruption and casualties, and leaving theRead MoreWhat is a Disaster?888 Words   |  3 PagesThe word disaster derives its literal meaning from the French word â€Å"Desastre†, a combination of two words ‘des’ meaning bad and ‘aster’ meaning star, thus the term refers to ‘Bad or Evil star . 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Very few, however, address the media’s depiction of the poor during times of disaster (natural or manmade). The issue of poverty is mostly understood through the frames in which the media presents it. As the media continues to use episodic frames (individual causes) over thematic frames that seek to address poverty in its entirety (Iyengar, 1990), the frames deliverRead MoreThe Threat Of Emergency Response Operations1604 Words   |  7 PagesThe quote; â€Å"Threats and Vulnerabilities emanating from man-made and natural disaster are the crux of the U.S. all-hazard approach to homeland security (HS), but this approach appears to be inherently flawed.† is not true. This essay will argue that emergency response operations are at the crux of the U.S. all-hazard approach to homeland security and that this approach is not inherently flawed just not all encompassing. This i s because the emergency response operations such as crisis and consequence

Urban Problems and the Authors Who Revealed Them to Us Free Essays

Around the 18th century, the industrial revolution began. This is when immigrants came and started to work in factories, not-so-good conditions. They worked in sorrowful rooms called sweatshops. We will write a custom essay sample on ï » ¿Urban Problems and the Authors Who Revealed Them to Us or any similar topic only for you Order Now There are some authors who were alive at the time and decided to investigate upon it. Others who were not alive at the time and they still were interested and were destined to research it. These authors were cordial to inform us the problems and vexations during that era. In this essay, I will be conducting, comparing and contrasting two books; ‘The jungle by Upton Sinclair†. And ‘How the other half lives† by Jacob Riis. How the Other Half Lives Imagine living in a dark, unlit tenement which is windowless and about 10 feet square. Photographers would come; a flash explodes, enlightening their impoverishment. Although the dimness of the room, a document of urban poverty is made. That is the way; Jacob Riis took pictures in lower Manhattan. This pioneering work of photojournalism by Jacob Riis focused on the plight of the poor in the Lower East Side, and greatly influenced future â€Å"muckraking† journalism. Riis mostly attributed the plight of the poor to environmental conditions, but he also divided the poor into two categories: deserving of assistance (mostly women and children) and undeserving (mostly the unemployed and intractably criminal). He wrote with prejudice about Jews, Italians, and Irish, and he stopped short of calling for government intervention. Still, the catalyst of his work was a genuine sympathy for his subjects, and his work shocked many New Yorkers. The Jungle Upton Sinclair was a desperately poor, young socialist hoping to remake the world when he settled down in a tarpaper shack in Princeton Township and penned his Great American Novel. Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle to expose the appalling working conditions in the meat-packing industry. His description of diseased, rotten, and contaminated meat shocked the public and led to new federal food safety laws. Before the turn of the 20th century, a major reform movement had emerged in the United States. Known as progressives, the  reformers were reacting to problems caused by the rapid growth of factories and cities. Progressives at first concentrated on improving the lives of those living in slums and in getting rid of corruption in government. By the beginning of the new century, progressives had started to attack huge corporations like Standard Oil, U. S. Steel, and the Amour meat-packing company for their unjust practices. The progressives revealed how these companies eliminated competition, set high prices, and treated workers as â€Å"wage slaves. â€Å" How to cite ï » ¿Urban Problems and the Authors Who Revealed Them to Us, Papers

Gatsby’s Dream Essay Example For Students

Gatsby’s Dream Essay Jay Gatsby, the central character of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby symbolizes the American dream. The American dream offers faith in the possibility of a better life. Its attendant illusion is the belief that material wealth alone can bring that dream to fruition. Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald brings together both these ideas. Jay Gatsby thinks money is the answer to anything he encounters. He has the best of everything. The fanciest car, the largest house, and the finest clothes. Jay has everything except the object he most desires, Daisy. Gatsby believes he can win Daisy over with wealth, that he could achieve the ideal she stood for through his material possessions. One look at Gatsby’s past and it could be seen that he was destined to get ahead in life. Mr. Gatz told Nick, â€Å"Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he’s got about improving his mind? He was always great for that. He told me I et like a hog once and I beat him for it† (182). Gatsby’s determination to gain a large bankroll is a huge part of the American dream. He believes that once he achieved his financial goal it would lead to a better life. In America the car is one of the greatest status symbols. Gatsby’s gorgeous machine is one of the most majestic cars created. Nick’s comments on the vehicle describe its luster, â€Å"†¦and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes†¦Sitting down behind many layers of glass in a sort of leather conservatory we started towards town† (68). The use of the symbolic automobile can be seen as a emonstration of how an ideal based on materialism alone can be destructive. This was the fatal car which kills Myrtle Wilson and indirectly leads to Gatsby’s death. Appearance is another important factor toward Gatsby’s dream. In his quest to win Daisy’s heart Gatsby chooses to wear his best outfit. â€Å"†¦the front door opened nervously and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold colored tie hurried in† (89). Silver and gold are the colors of wealth, Gatsby’s sartorial splendor is as lavish as any of the other items he owns. Gatsby’s shirts are more then just garments towards Gatsby. They are some of the many fascinating objects he possesses that were created by money. These shirts contribute towards Gatsby’s vision of the American dream, that his money and belongings will create happiness for him. Another major object of Gatsby’s dream was his incredible house. Jay states to Nick and Daisy, â€Å"My house looks well, doesn’t it? See how the whole front of it catches the light† (95). Jay gave Nick and Daisy the grand tour of his house showing of all of his worldly possessions. Room after room, everything was shown and mentioned. At the sight of his piles and piles of shirts Daisy broke down. â€Å"They’re such beautiful shirts, it makes me sad because I’ve never seen such–such beautiful shirts before† (98). Jay Gatsby’s ideals were parallel to the typical American dream. He wants to claim his objective by the use of his assets. He thinks that his money will give him happiness in life through love and his personal belongings. Even the richest man in the world can’t have everything. Material wealth ould provide many things for Jay Gatsby but not the thing he most desired. Although his wealth drew Daisy closer to him, he never truly could have possessed her heart. He demanded Daisy to state that she had never loved Tom Buchanan. â€Å"Oh, you want too much! † she cried to Gatsby, â€Å"I love you now–isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past. I did love him once–but I loved you too. † (139-140). Jay’s true love still remained with her uncaring husband, Tom. Jay Gatsby’s dream was smashed when he found out that even all of his assets weren’t enough to woo Daisy to him. .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 , .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .postImageUrl , .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 , .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:hover , .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:visited , .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:active { border:0!important; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:active , .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1 .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u71120a7583c953bb72f1859c6a90b5f1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Comparing The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain and The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger EssayJay Gatsby’s belief in the American dream keep him from realizing reality. He believes that if he worked hard enough and made enough money that he could have anything. He wants to perceive the world as a place where sufficient wealth would enable him to recapture and recreate the past he desired with Daisy. Gatsby began planning for his dream when he was young. This can be seen from his journal he wrote as a young man which was discovered by Mr. Gatz. His attempt to accomplish his dream with cars and shirts could not have been successful.