The play takes place in a run-down apartment in Washington, D.C. Lincoln, the older brother, is a "topdog" - a hustler who makes a living by pretending to be a white man and working as a Presidential impersonator. Solomon, on the other hand, is an "underdog" - a struggling young man who tries to make a name for himself as a boxer.
The Underdog is the counterpart that appears to be submissive but is actually incredibly manipulative. It is the "id" or the rebellious child. topdog underdog pdf
The "topdog" who was once a master at the Three-Card Monte street con but now works a legitimate job impersonating Abraham Lincoln in whiteface at an arcade, where customers "shoot" him with cap guns. The play takes place in a run-down apartment