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‘Proof’, is a famous play written by David Auburn in 2000. This play won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize. Other awards it gained include “the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Best Play, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the Tony Award for Best Play” (LeRoux & Paro). The play explores the power of heredity over the power of willpower and questions the significance of proof over trust.
The play in detail deals with themes of identity and gender, trust, and relationship. Catherine, the main protagonist in the play, struggles to determine her own identity.
Auburn through this character is throwing light on the pertaining professional gender stereotypes. To illustrate, Catherine’s father Robert is a mathematical genius who develops mental illness. Although Catherine also exhibits the same gifts, she is not sure to what extent she is like him.
Catherine falls in confusion after the death of her father. She is afraid that she too will succumb to the mental illness her father inherited. The question of how much she has inherited it from Robert is uncertain. The situation demands her to disclose her potential. Hal discovers a mathematical proof either written by Robert or Catherine. Catherine wonders if she will develop mental illness. Her emotional volatility takes the audience to the heightened tension and confusion. Catherine’s mood swings much following the death of her father. Her character traits are possible indication of her likeliness of developing illness.
Catherine, at her younger age, gave up her attempt to pursue education and took up the role of her father’s caregiver. Catherine knows that she has abilities, but she is also aware of the prevailing gender discrimination in the field of mathematics. She refers to the experience of Sophie Germain, a woman mathematician, who had to disclose her mathematic findings under a male pseudonym. Sophie Germain knew that only that way her ideas would get serious attention and admiration in a male dominant society. She not only confronts gender issues but also struggles with her own identity.
It is the story of a genius, who fails to make logical response to emotional matters. To Robert and his daughter, the world is a complex one established on ordinary things. Hence, people like Robert and Catherine are not fit to survive in a practical world. At the same time, the playwright Auburn introduces other two characters Hal and Claire as the representatives of intelligent people. They are not genius, but they are practical and know the right way to accomplishment. Among these two, Hal knows the potential Robert’s genius, and therefore he desires it for himself whereas Claire fails to understand the worth of Robert’s genius. She perceives Catherine as an emotionally unstable person who requires care. She does not find the genius in Catherine.
Catherine distrusts Hal and accuses him of having "a notebook in that backpack" (Auburn, Act 1, Scene 1). Hal replies that he would have nothing to steal since they were "full of bullshit" (Auburn, Act 1, Scene 1). Catherine snatches his backpack and examines it. She distrusts everyone, but in contrast, expects others to trust her. Hal also does not believe Catherine, especially in her ability to comprehend mathematics until Scene 3 when both open up to each other. Next morning Catherine gives Hal a key to the drawer of Robert’s writing desk.
In contrast, Claire does not trust Catherine at all. She thinks that Catherine is not well and therefore requires professional care. She insists Catherine to take rest and undergo professional help. Obviously, Catherine is in a difficult situation and finds no way to provide a proof of her findings. She is the representative of subjugated women in the field of mathematics. The author of the play maintains that women discrimination is evident in every sphere of social life and mathematics is no exception. It is common that genius fails to meet responsibilities of day-to-day activities. The writer through this play tries to explore the link between genius and madness. Whether or not we like to admit it, the themes addressed in it are so prevalent in our every-day life. This was the reason why the play became a raving success and a command to the viewers to stop and think.
The ‘proof’ is a symbol.
The writer has brilliantly linked issues of mathematical proofs and real life situations in a way that make the audience mull over the topic ‘if one can prove everything’. It sometimes makes one think ‘if one can prove anything’ in life. It imparts the thought that there are certain things in life which must be accepted by faith. It also tells the audience that faith and trust outweigh proof, and they are hence, important for strong relationships.
The difference between the traits of Catherine and Claire indicates family conflict. Claire wants to take Catherine back to New York. It is frustrating that Claire assumes the role of a caretaker at the eleventh hour despite the fact that Catherine had been taking care of her father for years sacrificing her education. Claire cannot be blamed as well, for she is a practical girl who now doubts Catherine’s mental stability. Although they love each other, their relationship is very fragile. It is true that they both demonstrate similar traits at times when responding to emotions. However, both diverge greatly with regard to outlooks.
In total, ‘Proof’ is an excellent play worth watching. It deals with multiple philosophical thoughts that are of great significance in the modern society. It invites our attention to the role of essential values like trust and faith in relationships.
Works Cited
LeRoux, Elaina and Paro, Brenda. “Proof”. Study Guide. Web. 10 April 2016. http://oregonstate.edu/dept/dpd/sites/default/files/proof_study-guide.pdf
Auburn, David. "Proof" by David Auburn”. Youtube. 2014. Video.
