Analysis of the Play Proof
The play proof was written by David Auburn and premiered at the beginning of the 21st century, the onset of the decade. The play is about a young woman by the name Catherine who is worried about the dangerous effects of inheriting the genius of his father. The play showcase Catherine’s father to be a mathematical genius succumbed by emotional and psychological problems because of his intense passion for precise. Catherine believes the mathematical genius runs in the family and therefore considers that to a broad aspect, she possesses these abilities. The challenge presented is when Catherine fears that the psychological and mental problems that her father exhibits could as well begin transforming to reality in her personal life. The play, therefore, depicts the life of mathematicians and there daily interactions with others, and the effects with which these interactions may have on others.
Catherine also exhibits an extent of genius, especially in her conversations with her friends as she gives a more logical approach to the questions and also the conservations she has with other people. This is mainly seen when she claims, “there’s no connection between the ideas; there are no ideas. It’s like a monkey at a typewriter. A hundred and three books full of…” (Auburn, Act 1, Scene 1)In these conversations, she had already gone through over a hundred texts and realized that co content was befitting. In this aspect, therefore, the play showcases the ubiquitous view of the mathematicians to be different from the ordinary folks (Bayer, 1083). It’s important to note that the game has incorporated a lot of literary aspects that project the main ideas in understanding the life of mathematicians and also the shadow which parents have towards the life of their children.
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According to Patterson (10), the play revolves around the life of the main character Catherine. This is exhibited in terms of her interactions with friends as well as her father and herself. Robert, Catherine’s father, was a renowned mathematician who had made substantial efforts in his field and is recognized by many in his area. Robert falls in sick at the time that Catherine was joining her higher education and then drops out of school to focus on her taking care of her father. Catherine’s sister, however, stayed in school and worked to support her family. With this regard, the pain of seeing her father succumb to mental illness owing to his much more expertise and knowledge on mathematics, the bitterness prompts Catherine o to resent her sister Claire for not being around to help her take care of her father. In this aspect, therefore, Catherine had much been immersed into the pain of his father to the extent that she begins questioning whether or not she will also succumb to mental illness. Patterson, (10). Her mental state is thus put to question by both her sister and herself.
A contrasting view is also presented in terms of the way both lair and Catherine attached self-love or value to themselves, mainly portrayed in the manner of dressing. Auburn (Act 1, Scene 1) introduces the play with Catherine dressed haphazardly in a way that was not stylish or indicating the nature of a young woman as viewed in the society. This indifference or disinterest towards looking neat could have been propagated by the tedious work she had to do in taking care of her father. However, this could also mean that she practically showed no partially towards a preference for dressing, which would be every anomalous to a young woman, especially in her age. Claire, on the other hand (Act 1, Scene 2), is depicted as a beautiful and stylish young woman who tries to change the physical outlook or rather the way her sisters looked. Catherine is seen to reject that would enhance her beauty at one point Claire asks, “did you use that Conditioner I brought you?’ “You didn’t put on the dress.” (Auburn, Act 1, Scene, 2).The answers that Catherine gives are inherently negative as if she is not interested in maintaining or improving how she looks. This could be an indicator of how little energy she had left practically drained from taking care of her father. This relationship between Claire and Catherine could serve as sure indicator r reason as to why Clair was skeptical about the mental stability and health of her sisters.
According to Patterson, (10) the character Harold was Robert’s Student in college and had an interest in studying the mathematical proofs ad pieces that Robert had written. Catherine declares that her father’s work was not as brilliant as many people thought it was. Harold and Claire discover that Catherine had inherited her father’s genius as she wrote several mathematical proofs by herself. The character Harold places Catherine at the epicenter of a dilemma as she has to decide whether to leave with her sister to New York or stay with Harold. The perspective here presented is the idea that mathematicians are not entirely odd individuals encompassed with the meaningless life of serious academic orientations but also care capable of exhibiting love and develop a connection. Catherine doubts the fact that her future might be affected by mental instability similar to that of her father she later accepts that she is a mathematical genius and can lie her social life as well the play, therefore, presents that despite the uncanny problem-solving abilities of Catherine as a mathematical genius, theirs is still a possibility of leading of a normal without dissenting into mental illness, (Bayer, 1083).
Notably, there a lot of issues revolving around the mathematical position field has in society. The play aims to depict the normalcy in the mathematical genius that they are not entirely different from the ordinary people. According to Emmer & Manaresi, (112-113), this play doesn’t base itself on the theoretical aspects of mathematics but provides a different view on the life of the mathematicians. The use of technology has thus be incorporated as a host to mathematics, clarifying that contrasts the typical perception of mathematicians. There has been a notable social stigma in society towards female mathematicians. Thus, Catherine highlights the capability of female mathematicians despite their gender to excel in mathematics, as she mentions Sophie Germaine.
The play also exhibits the issue of social stratification as Claire preferred the lavish lifestyle as compared to her sister Catherine whose life was simple. Claire is also seen trying to change her sister’s physique. Materialism, as a theme, is indicated when Hal seduces Catherine to access the notes and literary pieces of mathematical proofs that her father wrote. Claire is also materialistic as the play depicts her to be a go-getter, over of expensive lifestyle. Sexuality and history also encompass the game as Catherine, despite being a mathematical genius develops a connection with Hal defying the perception of the society and history through the flashbacks of Roberts’s life and his achievements and also the presence of Sophie Germaine respectively.
Conclusion
The play proof was written by Auburn 2000 and aimed at defying the perception the society has towards mathematicians as nerds who are antisocial and have no meaningful life apart from their logical works. Robert and Catherine are actual examples of individuals capable of integrating their mathematical genius to their social life. The internal conflict Catherine faces out of fear to dissent to madness owing to her knowledge of mathematics indicates the gender issues that the society faces in regards to technical subjects, that women are not capable of doing them. The life of Sophie Germaine also advocates for female mathematicians. Highlight the various social issues that mathematicians face that results in stigmatization and indicate the possibility of mitigating through and overcoming such challenges.
References
Auburn, David. Proof. 2000. Retrieved from: http://my.fit.edu/~lperdiga/proof.pdf, Accessed on 31st March 2020.
Bayer, Dave. Theater Review: Proof. City Center, New York. 2000. Volume 47, Number 9. Retrieved from: https://www.ams.org/notices/200009/rev-bayer.pdf. Accessed on 31st March 2020.
Emmer, Michelle & Manaresi, Mirella. Mathematics, Art, Technology, and Cinema. Springer. 2000. 112-113.
Patterson, Katheryn. An Actor’s Approach to Claire in Proof by David Auburn. 2016. School of Graduate Studies, East Tennessee State University. Retrieved from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a8eb/91d73aef4ec51459c8226426f61966b9fc9a.pdf. Accessed on 31st March 2020.