Sisterly Love: Nothing More Than Deceitful Manipulation?
Claire: Stay here if you hate me so much.
Catherine: And do what?
Claire: You’re the genius, figure it out. (CLAIRE is upset, near tears. [...] She exits). (Auburn, 78)
In the play Proof, by David Auburn, two estranged sisters, Catherine and Claire, struggle to fundamentally understand each other upon reuniting after their father’s death. Furthermore, Catherine characterizes Claire as having a conniving and haughty persona; yet, towards the end of the play, one can see that Claire undeniably cares about her younger sister’s psychological well-being.
Upon landing in Chicago for her father’s funeral, and seeing Catherine so distraught, Claire begins to take over, acting in a manipulative …show more content…
Although the conversation remains fairly superficial, Claire’s actions reflect her manipulative nature. When Claire asks her how she takes her coffee, for instance, Catherine responds: “Black” (24). However, Claire ignores her implicit demand, responding with:
Claire: Have a little milk. (She pours.) Want a banana? It’s a good thing I brought food: there was nothing in the house.
Catherine: I’ve been meaning to go shopping.
Claire: Have a bagel.
Catherine: No. I hate breakfast. (24)
When blatantly ignoring her sister’s wishe after Catherine has explicitly stated that she “hate[s] breakfast,” Catherine essentially dismisses her sister’s opinion, which indicates to the audience that she is, in fact, condescending. After consulting …show more content…
Therefore, through the evidence that Claire does in fact care about Catherine, one can see that Claire is not the sister Catherine has made her out to be. After Hal tries to come in to apologize to Catherine, Claire does not hesitate to accuse his behavior, saying: “Why’d you do it? You know what she’s like. She’s fragile and you took advantage of her” (66). When questioning his actions, demanding to know why he became physically and romantically involved with Catherine if he “kn[e]w what she’s like,” and that “[s]he’s fragile,” Claire conveys her true feelings for Catherine. Not only does she protect her from him in this instance, but she also is quick to retaliate when Hal tries to separate himself from the situation by saying that Catherine willingly became physically and romantically involved with him, and that perhaps she would be happier if she could stay with him in Chicago instead of moving to New York with Claire. Upon hearing this, Claire utters
Claire: Stay here if you hate me so much.
Catherine: And do what?
Claire: You’re the genius, figure it out. (CLAIRE is upset, near tears. [...] She exits). (Auburn, 78)
In the play Proof, by David Auburn, two estranged sisters, Catherine and Claire, struggle to fundamentally understand each other upon reuniting after their father’s death. Furthermore, Catherine characterizes Claire as having a conniving and haughty persona; yet, towards the end of the play, one can see that Claire undeniably cares about her younger sister’s psychological well-being.
Upon landing in Chicago for her father’s funeral, and seeing Catherine so distraught, Claire begins to take over, acting in a manipulative …show more content…
Although the conversation remains fairly superficial, Claire’s actions reflect her manipulative nature. When Claire asks her how she takes her coffee, for instance, Catherine responds: “Black” (24). However, Claire ignores her implicit demand, responding with:
Claire: Have a little milk. (She pours.) Want a banana? It’s a good thing I brought food: there was nothing in the house.
Catherine: I’ve been meaning to go shopping.
Claire: Have a bagel.
Catherine: No. I hate breakfast. (24)
When blatantly ignoring her sister’s wishe after Catherine has explicitly stated that she “hate[s] breakfast,” Catherine essentially dismisses her sister’s opinion, which indicates to the audience that she is, in fact, condescending. After consulting …show more content…
Therefore, through the evidence that Claire does in fact care about Catherine, one can see that Claire is not the sister Catherine has made her out to be. After Hal tries to come in to apologize to Catherine, Claire does not hesitate to accuse his behavior, saying: “Why’d you do it? You know what she’s like. She’s fragile and you took advantage of her” (66). When questioning his actions, demanding to know why he became physically and romantically involved with Catherine if he “kn[e]w what she’s like,” and that “[s]he’s fragile,” Claire conveys her true feelings for Catherine. Not only does she protect her from him in this instance, but she also is quick to retaliate when Hal tries to separate himself from the situation by saying that Catherine willingly became physically and romantically involved with him, and that perhaps she would be happier if she could stay with him in Chicago instead of moving to New York with Claire. Upon hearing this, Claire utters