logo

33 pages 1 hour read

Proof

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2000

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
David Auburn

Proof

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

83

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • Contemporary

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

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.

Contemplative

Emotional

Mysterious

Melancholic

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.3

19,944 ratings

73%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

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 this

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.

4.3

19,944 ratings

73%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

83

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • Contemporary

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.