Prove that irony exists in the play
In the play “Proof” by David Auburn, events unravel in the house of a mathematical genius Robert, who has been suffering from mental illness. His daughter Catherine is living with him in order to take care of. The first element of irony is presented in the very beginning. Readers do not know the fact that Robert is already dead, and the whole dialogue between him and Catherine regarding her birthday is a part of Catherine’s delusion. Secondly, the way Robert’s work in his latest year is presented ambiguously by different characters. When Hal, one of Robert’s students, find a notebook with very important mathematical proof, he is excited with the idea that “while everyone thought he [Robert] was crazy… or barely functioning… he was doing some of the most important mathematics in the world.” (Auburn, 2001). Catherine claims that she wrote this proof and in Catherine’s flashback, readers are presented with a situation, where Robert is delusional and wrote nonsensical rambling paragraphs equating cold, winter, and books. Finally, the irony is in dialogues. When Claire persuades Catherine to move to New York and tells her about all the opportunities there, Catherine responds about an expensive Freudian psychiatrist, who will listen to her as she blames all of her problems on Claire, which is ironic (Auburn, 2001). Therefore, the novel contains elements of irony in both, the plot and the dialogues.
Prove that Claire is a fixer
In the novel “Proof”, written by David Auburn, Claire is the older daughter of delusional mathematical genius Robert. Claire is a fixer of her father’s and her younger sister Catherine’s lives in many details. First of all, the reason she moved to New York and did not help Catherine to take care of their father is that she worked in order to pay for the house they were living in and for Catherine’s education. Secondly, Claire cares for her sister and wants her well, which can be seen when she suggests Catherine flirt with Hal. Although Catherine refuses at first, but later in the novel Hal and Catherine kiss, resolving the affection towards each other (Auburn, 2001). Finally, Claire is concerned with Catherine’s mental state and takes her to New York to take care of her. Hence, Claire is one of the most responsible characters in the novel as she helps all of the other characters in their lives.
Prove that the play is about betrayal
The novel “Proof” by David Auburn is based around mathematical proof that was found in possession of a delusional mathematical genius’s daughter Catherine. She claims to have written it herself, hence, betraying a part of her father’s legacy. Catherine might have inherited her father’s mathematical abilities as well as his delusion, hence her sister Claire and friend Hal betray her by not believing her claims of authorship. Finally, the theme of betrayal can be seen in the relationships between sisters Claire and Catherine. Claire left her mentally ill father with her younger sister Catherine and moved to New York (Auburn, 2001). When she comes back, she wants to sell the house immediately after the funeral. Therefore, the theme of betrayal is one of the central ones in this play.
Prove that the play is sexist
The issue of gender and sexism is one of the central topics. Catherine is a younger daughter of a mathematical genius Robert in the novel “Proof” by David Auburn. She doubts her mathematical abilities and one of the reasons for that is her being a woman. This can be seen in correspondence when she uses a man’s name to talk about mathematical problems. Secondly, at first, nobody believes that Catherine was capable of writing the proof that Hal found, implying that it was her father. Finally, Hal was upset that he is not at his prime because mathematics is a “young man’s game”, which is ironic but also sexist as he tells it to Catherine (Auburn, 2001). Therefore, the play contains themes of sexism in its narrative.
Prove that Catherine loves her father
David Auburn, the author of the novel “Proof” created in his work Catherine’s father Robert as a mentally unstable mathematician who wrote some significant works when he was young. Later in life, he became delusional, so Catherine was taking care of him for at least four years. This fact alone is proof of the daughter’s love. However, there are instances where children do this out of duty, not out of love. Her love is expressed in reminiscent dialogues, where the father is presented as a loving and caring figure, for example in the opening dialogue about the birthday. Finally, her caring and loving attitude towards her father is seen in a flashback, where Robert forgot about her birthday, but she was not offended and forgave him. Then, when he remembered, he offered her dinner and wrote about a “good day”, which was the result of Catherine’s care about him (Auburn, 2001). Therefore, Catherine is a loving daughter, who stayed loyal and devoted to her father in his times of trouble and mental instability.
References
Auburn, D. (2001). Proof. Dramatists Play Service Inc.