Douglass and Parks example

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Douglass and Parks

The history of hardships that the African American men had to endure goes back to many years and generations. It is a topic that has been concerning people around the world for a long while. The subject found its way in literature and, later, in the theatre and moviemaking industry.

Even though “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave”, a book written by Frederick Douglass himself (published in 1845) and “Topdog/Underdog”, a play by Suzan-Lori Parks (written in 2002) seem to have nothing in common from the first sight, it is impossible not to see the resemblance of their themes and characters. The storylines are so different; one would think there is nothing alike about the pieces. The events take place in different places and at different times. However, the fact that the characters had endured similar miseries is undeniable.

Frederick, as well as Booth and Lincoln, was born in America, yet he had the “luck” to be born at the times of slavery. All three of them do not have parents. Frederick’s mother was taken from him when he was a baby and father was unknown to him. Booth and Lincoln’s (as they are brothers) left them when they were old enough (eleven and sixteen) to understand the betrayal. At a small age the three of them have to realize that the only people they can rely on are them. For Frederick it is only himself he can trust, and for Booth and Link it is each other. That is the time when they perceive the importance of independence.

This realization makes the main theme of the stories – freedom. It is the main course of life the characters of both pieces of writing are trying to pursue. While freedom for Frederick means actual release from the fetters of slavery, brothers’ understanding of the concept is not as transparent. The fact that Booth’s opinion on it is different from Lincoln’s does not make it easier to be understood.

Booth sees freedom as living his live the way he wants to; no laws and no rules. Although he wants to be able to afford fancy things, Booth has no care for a real job. He considers stealing and making money from playing cards in streets to be legitimate sources of income. Lincoln, on the other hand, looks at life and liberty at a different angle. As he has already tried to live outside the law and has seen the consequences of this kind of existing, the older brother tries to start a new page of his life by getting a legal job and refusing to be a part of card-dealing “business” Booth is convincing him to start. Not always does it work (as Link does not say no to Booth’s stolen presents), but it is his first attempt on doing the right thing.

What makes the three characters similar is their persistence in pursuing their common goal – to be …

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