33 pages • 1 hour read
David AuburnProof
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2000A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Proof follows Catherine, a young woman grappling with her father Robert's recent death and her own future. Robert was a brilliant mathematician who succumbed to mental illness, and Catherine fears she may inherit his instability. As she forms a connection with Hal, her father's former student, tensions arise over a groundbreaking mathematical proof she claims to have written. The play delves into themes of genius, heredity, familial duty, and the complexities of trust and recognition.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Proof by David Auburn has received praise for its compelling exploration of genius, mental illness, and family dynamics. Critics commend its sharp dialogue and well-drawn characters. However, some note occasional predictability in the plot. Overall, Auburn's work is celebrated for its emotional depth and intellectual engagement.
Who Should Read Proof?
Readers who would enjoy Proof by David Auburn are likely drawn to works blending complex character studies and intellectual challenges, such as Arcadia by Tom Stoppard or A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar. They appreciate themes of familial bonds, mental illness, and the pressures of academic brilliance.