The play “Proof” by David Auburn describes how close genius and madness are related. If forms an imagination of the relationship between the two rather distinct qualities of a person. The play focuses on Catherine who leaves schooling to tend to her aging father, Robert, who happened to be respected mathematician in his youthful age. His death brings into surface Claire, her daughter who wants Catherine to travel back to New York. Hal, a former student of Robert, resurfaces after his teacher’s death in search of any helpful piece of work left behind by the mathematician. The discovery of an unpublished mathematical ‘proof’ marks the beginning of the controversial argument of the relationship between madness and genius.
Madness and genius
After Robert succumbs to death, Catherine seems to have inherited a bit of his brilliance. In addition to that, she seems to have inherited his mental instability too. This is evident in the occasions that she speaks to her dead father in what looks like an illusion. She fantasizes being with her father like she used to and engages in incomprehensible talks. Mental illness is a tough nut to crack, especially when there is an attribution to intelligence. In his youthful age, Robert had revolutionized the field of mathematics in two instances while he was barely twenty two of age. Unfortunately, he fell apart and this he describes as ‘going bughouse’.
His falling apart, to a high percentage, would be attributed to his intelligence in mathematics. His eldest daughter Claire wanted nothing for her father except institutionalization because she argues that her father needed specialized attention due to his deteriorating mental illness. The appearance of both Claire, who comes back to Chicago for the funeral, and Hal, who happens to be looking for any important material left behind by the one time intellect in mathematics, sparks controversies especially on Catherine. Hal goes through the hundreds of old and odd note-books but only seems to come across what looks like the scribbling of an old man. He, however, does not lose hope and eventually runs into a notebook that contains some important content. The notebook contains a mathematical proof which happens not to have been published. The proof is on a mathematical theorem on prime numbers which is actually a theory mathematicians have been working tirelessly to prove since the conception of mathematics.
Catherine claims ownership of the piece of work discovered by Hal in Robert’s documents. This also an instance when the audience fails to understand whether Catherine’s claims were driven by intelligence of madness. It is true that she studied mathematics for a couple of months in the Northwestern but that was not reason enough to enable her make such a discovery. It is obvious that the writings on the paper are Robert’s as said by Claire. She ascertains that Catherine has inherited a bit of their father’s talent but also thinks that she could also have inherited his tendency towards mental instability. Her ultimate decision is to find a buyer for the house and take her sister with her to New York and find her a decent medication.
Catherine herself knows that she is not really in her best state of mind and the fear of ending up like her father torments her a lot. On the other hand, she is gifted in mathematics. Hal, who happens to have had a romantic relationship with Catherine, sees some sense in the abilities of her as highlighted in Robert’s notes. Catherine and Hal have sexual and romantic entanglements and surprisingly, there are various hidden motives behind the actions of each character. The two lovers who have some knowledge that can form the basis of an argument in mathematics do not seem to agree on various issues. As a result, they thrust at the edges of one another’s knowledge. This is attributed not only to the impulsivity of genius but also the instincts of trust and love.
As a result of all these, the arising puzzle is not the founder of the mathematical theorem nor is it how easy it is to dismiss Catherine’s claims form the fact that the handwritings on the notebook are not hers. The puzzle is Catherine’s sanity and its attribution to the intelligence she could have inherited from her late mathematical genius father. Claire and Hal try to relate Catherine’s situation and finds a similarity. It proves difficult to trust the claims presented by Catherine and even worse to comprehend her sanity.
If Catherine really wrote the mathematical gold, it was obvious that she was a genius just like her father and would unfortunately follow his footsteps. On the contrary, Claire and Hal are oblivious of the fact that the discovery of this mathematical gold would be an inception of Catherine’s madness, inconsiderate of whether she discovered the theorem or not.
Conclusion
There is an evident relationship between madness and genius as brought forth by Auburn. Both Robert and her lastborn daughter Catherine had a mental disorder perhaps because of their intelligence in mathematics. From the play, it is wise to conclude that madness can be attributed to genius.
Work Cited
The Internet Classics. Complete review, 02 May. 2012. (http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/usplays/auburnd1.htm/)
