STUDY GUIDE
By Ashley Kelley, Dramaturge
Dramaturge Supervisor: Amy Simpson Grubbs
PROOF: PRODUCTION HISTORY
"Proof" is the second full length play written by David Auburn. The play debuted
off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club, moved to the Walter Kerr Theatre
on Broadway, toured nationally, and was then adapted for film. "Proof" received
the Joseph Kesselring Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the Drama Desk Award, and the
Tony Award for Best Play of 2001.
DAVID AUBURN
Auburn is best known for his 2000 play Proof. It
won the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play, as well as
the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He has also been
awarded the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award and a
Guggenheim Fellowship.
PROOF: THE MOVIE
Auburn’s play was adapted to a movie in 2005.
It starred Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins,
and Jake Gyllenhaal.
SOPHIE GERMAIN (1776-1831)
In the play, Catherine mentions Sophoe Germain – a
female mathematician who accomplished some
amazing proofs of her own. The most thematically
connected to the play (and this production in particular)
is her work on Fermat's Last Theorem. She used
specific prime numbers (which are now called Germain
Primes and are mentioned in Proof) in her step towards
proving Ferma’s Theorem that there were no whole
number solutions to the following equations:
x3 + y3 = z3
x5 + y5 = z5
x4 + y4 = z4
x6 + y6 = z6
Germain showed that a solution to the equation:
X Germain Prime + Y Germain Prime was highly unlikely.
SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN
While they are discussing how much time
Catherine has lost, Catherine and Robert
mention the number 1729. They discuss the
discovery Srinivasa Ramanujan made about
1729. He was the one who realized that it was,
indeed the “smallest number expressible as the
sum of two cubes in two different ways”:
1729 = 13 + 123 = 93 + 103.
Fellow mathematician G. H. Hardy tells this story of when Ramanujan revealed
his discovery to Hardy: "I remember once going to see him when he was lying ill
at Putney. I had ridden in taxi-cab No. 1729, and remarked that the number
seemed to be rather a dull one, and that I hoped it was not an unfavourable omen.
"No", he replied, "it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number
expressible as the sum of two [positive] cubes in two different ways.""
THEMES:
There are many themes in the play Proof. The title itself begs investigation. The
Oxford English Dictionary gives the following definitions of “proof”. Are these
definitions important in development of characters and plot? Give specific
examples of how you see these definitions working as themes in Proof.
1. Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of anything
2. A sequence of steps by which a theorem or other statement is derived from
given premises
3. Relating to the trying or testing of something
4. The fact, condition, or quality of proving good, turning out well, or
producing good results; thriving; goodness, substance.
5. The action or an act of testing or making trial of something; the condition of
being tested; examination, experiment; test, trial;
6. Striving, effort; an attempt or endeavour
7. The condition of having successfully stood a test, or the capability of doing
so; proven or tested power, strength, etc.
Other themes in Proof include:
 The World of Mathematics as a Man’s Profession
 Death and Grief
What other themes do you find in the play?
Write a short essay describing these themes. Include quotes and specific examples
from the play. You may use the themes and definitions above in your essay.
THE LINE BETWEEN CREATIVE GENIUS AND MENTAL ILLNESS
Ironically, the symptoms of some mental illnesses may also facilitate
creative thinking.
For example, in their manic phase, bipolar people experience heightened
senses, grandiose ideas, and diverse thinking.
Schizophrenics are able to make bizarre, unexpected associations between
ideas. They also have a sense of detachment from the world, which frees
them from social restrictions.
People with Major Depression are deeply introspective, exhibit intense
“realistic” thinking, empathy (an openness and sensitivity to pain), and they
often pursue creative activities as a method of escapism. Many comedians
exhibit traits of depression. Note that there is often an underlying cynicism
in their jokes because they use humor as a coping mechanism.
Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, causes restrictive or intense,
repetitive behaviors, a type of “intelligence” needed for science and math.
John Nash, features in the film A Beautiful Mind, was a brilliant mathematician
who contributed significantly to game theory. He was also a paranoid
schizophrenic.
Vincent Van Gogh, one of the world’s greatest painters, is famous for cutting off
his own ear, drinking turpentine, and other odd behaviors until he eventually
committed suicide.
Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer, had an abusive childhood and slowly
went deaf in his adult life. His letters to family members show his struggle with
depression.
Edgar Allan Poe, famous author, had a drinking problem and was plagued with
thoughts of suicide. Modern scholars believe he may have been bipolar.
Ernest Hemingway Winner of the Pulitzer Prize (1952), and the Nobel Prize in
Literature (1954), the novelist's suicidal depression is examined in The True Gen:
An Intimate Portrait of Ernest Hemingway by Those Who Knew Him by Denis Brian.
RESPONSE AND PROJECT IDEAS

For Literature Classes:
There are a number of repeated words or ideas in this script. What do they
tell us? Does Auburn use these words to create a sense of security, a sense
of insanity, and/or a sense of closeness? Defend your thoughts with
specific examples from the play.

For Science Classes:
Pick a scientist or mathematician from the previous list that has skirted the
line between creative genius and insanity and do a research project on him
or her. This should include what mental illness they suffered from, their
professional area of expertise, how the two (mental illness & expertise)
complemented or impeded one another.

For Math Classes:
Research the biography of Sophie Germain (mentioned specifically by
Claire) or Srinivasa Ramanujan (his discovery about the number 1729 is
referenced in the play). Create a project explaining their contributions to
mathematics.

For Theatre Classes:
Imagine that you've been asked to play a character who is struggling with
some sort of mental problem (anything from depression to schizophrenia).
How would you go about playing that character? What are the pitfalls an
actor could fall into as (s)he undertakes such a role?
OR
This play takes place outside on the porch of a house. That creates some
unique designing and directing challenges. How would you design a set for
this play? What would you do as a director to create a play that is both
interesting to watch and easy to see?
WORKS CITED
Websites:
"David Auburn." in.com. connect.in.com, n.d. Web. 30 Jan 2012. <http://connect.in.com/davidauburn/biography-67623.html>.
Hoffman, Michael. "Srinivasa Ramanujan." Mike Hoffman. United States Naval Academy, 29 Jan 2012. Web.
30 Jan 2012. <http://www.usna.edu/Users/math/meh/ramanujan.html>.
"If You Are Mentally Ill, You Might Be a Genius." Surviving Limbo. N.p., 19 Jul 2010. Web. 30 Jan 2012.
<http://survivinglimbo.wordpress.com/tag/thin-line-between-genius-and-insanity/>.
McCracken, James, ed. "Proof, n.." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, Dec 2011. Web. 8
Feb 2012. <http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/152578?rskey=s6ZgGv&result=1&isAdvanced=false
"Quotations by G H Hardy." Quotations by G H Hardy. JOC/EFR, Feb. 2006. Web. 16 Jan 2012.
<http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Quotations/Hardy.html>.
Singh, Simon. "Math's Hidden Woman." NOVA. PBS, WGBH. Website, 28 Oct. 1997. Web. 16 Jan 2012.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/sophie-germain.html>.
White, Christopher. ""Proof" by David Auburn." The Green Man Review. WordPress, 23 Nov 2003. Web. 30
Jan 2012. <http://www.greenmanreview.com/live/live_proof_1103.html>.
Wiig, Deborah. "The link between genius and mental illness." Mood Letter. Mood Letter, 01 Aug 2009. Web.
30 Jan 2012. <http://moodletter.com/AboutMoodletter.html>.
Weisstein, Eric W.. "Germain, Sophie (1776-1831)." ScienceWorld.Wolfram.com. Wolfram Research
Productions, 2007. Web. 30 Jan 2012. <http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Germain.html>.
Images:
"David Auburn to Helm Michael Weller’s Side Effects at MCC Theatre ." Broadway.com. Broadway.com,
inc., 09112010. Web. 30 Jan 2012. <http://www.broadway.com/buzz/154220/david-auburn-to-helmmichael-wellers-side-effects-at-mcc-theatre/>.
Hoffman, Michael. "Srinivasa Ramanujan." Mike Hoffman. United States Naval Academy, 29 Jan 2012. Web.
30 Jan 2012. <http://www.usna.edu/Users/math/meh/ramanujan.html>.
"Proof Poster." MovePoster.com. MoviePoster.com, inc, 2012. Web. 30 Jan 2012.
<http://www.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-50196/Proof.html>.
Weisstein, Eric W.. "Germain, Sophie (1776-1831)." ScienceWorld.Wolfram.com. Wolfram Research
Productions, 2007. Web. 30 Jan 2012. <http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Germain.html>.