1) In his New York Times review, Ben Brantley states Topdog is, of course, a variation of sorts on the story of Cain and Abel, a tale that has traditionally served American artists well in exploring the divided nature of their country Do you believe that Parks captures the current state of America in 2020? Provide (2) two examples from the play to defend your answer.

2) Suzan Lori-Parks is often criticized for the dialogue of her male characters (see Topdog Diaries on YouTube). What do you believe makes her so successful in capturing how men speak to each other? Provide (2) examples from the play to support your opinion.