The Top Dog demands perfection, which is an impossible standard. Because the Underdog cannot meet this standard, it uses the power of . By procrastinating or making excuses, the Underdog successfully avoids the demand while pretending to agree with it. This creates a exhausting, continuous loop: The Top Dog scolds you for a mistake. The Underdog apologizes and promises to do better. The Underdog secretly sabotages the plan. The Top Dog returns with even harsher criticism. How to Resolve the Conflict
The irony starts with their names: Lincoln is a former master of the three-card monte hustle, now working a humiliating job impersonating Abraham Lincoln at an arcade, while Booth is a shoplifter desperate to learn his brother’s card tricks. The play is a dark, funny, and devastating look at family, history, and the roles we are forced to play in society. topdog underdog pdf