Comparison Of Topdog And Underdog

Authors Walter Mosley and Suzan-Lori Parks are two contemporary African-American writers who have enriched the literary world with multiple works that deal with everything from personal demons to issues faced by entire generations and cultures. Walter Mosley created the engrossing tale of “Equal Opportunity,” a story of an older black man who decides after decades of inactivity to rejoin productive society. Author Suzan-Lori Parks entertained readers and theater goers with her story of two competing brothers in the play Topdog/Underdog. Despite both literary works being provocative tales of able-bodied black men these two stories do not represent African-American literature as defined by Gibson and Warren but rather depict a contemporary dilemma

many underprivileged men face: adversity. Both authors use historical allusion, the struggle for power, and a lack of belief in societies moral standards to display the stories of these troubled men in attempt to overcome the adversities of life.
Author Suzan-Lori Parks creates a captivating plot in her play Topdog/Underdog which follows two young African-American brothers throughout their journey to what they hope is a better life.

Left to raise themselves at an early age the brothers support themselves by any means necessary. Lincoln, an ex-hustler, tries to earn an honest living as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. His younger brother, Booth, however, is interested in making money anyway he can. He continues the hustle of his older brother by trying his luck as a dealer of three-card monte. When each of the brother’s romantic relationships begin to crumble Booth convinces his older brother to rejoin the game. Lincoln has just lost his job and wife and agrees. Unfortunately for Booth, Lincoln was always the better card dealer. Booth struggles with his perception of his brother as the top dog and his own position in life as the underdog. In a final struggle for power, the two brothers play one last game of cards. Booth loses to Lincoln and frustrated with his brother’s success, kills Lincoln just as his namesake killed the former

president.
Walter Mosley immerses his audience in the struggles of Socrates, the main character in Mosley’s short story, “Equal Opportunity.” Socrates, not as wise as his namesake, has been out of the job force for over thirty years and struggles to rejoin the working population.

Socrates troubles begin when he is a young man who enjoys the wild side of life. Over drinking coupled with an uncontrollable temper lead Socrates to kill his two best friends, landing him in jail for twenty-seven years. Socrates doesn’t believe he will obtain a job in his community partially because he believes that there are no job opportunities to be obtained and partially because he believes that his reputation as a murder and bum will affect his probability of being hired. Socrates looks outside of his community to a wealthier neighborhood for employment. Unfortunately, the grocery store Socrates applies at is uninterested in offering him a position. Socrates refuses to take no for an answer and harasses the manager. Eventually, Socrates finds other employment but the audience is left wondering how long he will maintain the

position.
Park’s uses the historical allusion of John Wilks Booth and President Abraham Lincoln with the two brothers’ names as a comparison to Lincoln and Booth’s relationship in the play, Topdog/Underdog. Booth considers himself the underdog who is always trying to live up to the great Lincoln. His older brother, Lincoln, despite struggling with his own failures, maintains a sense of dominance over his younger brother. The audience understands the foreshadowing that these character’s names give in the final scene of the play when Booth, frustrated and angry, grabs his brother, Lincoln, and shoots him.
Mosley also uses a historical allusion in “Equal Oportunity,” with the main character’s name, Socrates. Socrates, the great Greek philosopher , is revered as one of the greatest ethical minds this world has ever seen. The ironic comparison leads the audience to hope that Socrates will learn the valuable lesson of self-control and modesty throughout his struggles. However, Socrates only demands more from society and never understands the social implications of his life style choices. His last act in the story, “Equal Opportunity,” is too lie. Socrates explains to his friend that he was untruthful about his past on his application and states, “At least I get a paycheck till they find out what I am.”
These two stories depict the adversities faced by three black men. Despite wanting better in their lives none of the three, Socrates, Booth, or Lincoln, live up to society’s description of moral standards. The men know that their actions are wrong, but choose the path society deems as undesirable, despite knowing the consequences. Lincoln explains to his brother Booth early in the play Underdog/Topdog, why he can’t go back to a life of dealing cards, “One day I was throwing cards. Next day Lonny died. Somebody shot him. I knew I was next, so I quit. I saved my life.” Unfortunately, Lincoln ignores his better judgment and pursues a life of gambling, which eventually leads to his death. Booth and Socrates both demand that life provide them their fair share despite being murderers. Socrates even displays indignant behavior with a lack of empathy for his wrong doing when he believes the store managers are treating him unfairly stating, “They didn’t have to worry about him. He wasn’t a thief. Or, if he was, the only thing he ever took was life.”
Each author, Parks and Mosely, are accomplished African-American writers who have created engaging tales depicting African-American characters. However, despite both pieces, Topdog/Underdog and “Equal Opportunity,” being intriguing literary works that explore the adversities faced by the three main characters neither can be considered African-American Literature by Gibson’s standards. These two pieces do not look at the hardships of African Americans but rather they examine the hardships brought on by poor life style choices. Gibson contends that in order for literature to be considered African-American literature it must encompasses: the idea of empowering the black community, it must convey the author’s opinion on injustice based on race, or it must address a political battle that the black community faces. While there is no denying that some of the issues these men face do greatly impact the African-American community the main characters are not struggling because of their race. Socrates notes in the short story, “Equal Opportunity,” that all of the cashiers and bag boys are black. Socrates complaint to the manager isn’t that he is being discriminated against due to his skin color but rather his looks, “I know what you said. But first you looked at my clothes and at my bald head. First yo’ eyes said that this is some kinda old hobo and what do he want here when it ain’t bottle redemption time.”
According to Warren’s definition of Aftican-American literature, these two pieces, again, would not be described as African-American Literature. Both Parks and Mosely have created somewhat contemporary pieces. Warren’s description of African-American literature includes pieces that were written during and about politically charged times such as the Jim Crow Era. Many can argue that racism still exits; however, Topdog/Underdog and “Equal Opportunity,” are written in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, after such practices as segregation and widespread discrimination had already ended.