Heredity In David Auburn's Proof

David Auburn’s Proof has a constantly flowing theme of heredity intermingled throughout the characterization of the story. The story begins with Catherine, the true main character of the story, arguing with her father, Robert, who had been dead a week, causing her to fear the possibility of the beginning of her own insanity; Catherine’s shallow sister, Claire, joins her and accidentally pushes Catherine to further doubt her own sanity. As the plot continues, Catherine reveals that she has written a complex mathematic proof, proving that she has indeed inherited many traits from her father; this revelation exposes Catherine’s intense fear of inheriting her father’s insanity. Auburn gradually builds this theme of heredity through the many distinct …show more content…
He and Catherine are very similar in both their personalities and in their talents. Auburn shows that Catherine inherited Robert’s skills in mathematics through Robert and Catherine’s conversation at the beginning of the story when Robert says, “You see? Even your depression is mathematical. Stop moping and get to work. The kind of potential you have--” (1185). In the very same conversation, Auburn reveals that Catherine also has the potential to inherit Robert’s mental instability when Robert replies to Catherine, “Well if that’s why you’re worried you’re not keeping up with the medical literature. There are all kinds of factors. It’s not simply something you inherit. Just because I went bughouse doesn’t mean you will” (1186). In addition to the inherited qualities, Robert and Catherine’s personalities are very similar; Robert is content being alone and working on math equations and problems, and Catherine is perfectly satisfied with taking care of her father in his deteriorating mental condition. They are both comfortable being themselves, regardless of what others say about them. Consequently, this similarity in talents and in personality draws Catherine and Robert to be very close to each