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.
Essay Topics
When Proof premiered on Broadway in 2000, mental health issues were not at the forefront of public discourse and awareness. How does the play’s treatment of mental illness speak to current understandings of the issue? Has the play aged well? Use examples from the text to explain.
What would you describe as the central message of the play? Who do you think is the intended audience for that message and why?
The entire play takes place on the porch of Robert’s house in Chicago. What do you think the porch signifies? What about the house as a whole?
How would you characterize the relationship between Robert and Catherine? Is it a healthy father-daughter relationship? How does it differ from Claire’s relationship with their father?
What do you think happens to the characters after the play ends? How do you want the story to end and why?
Time and the passage of time are major themes in the play. What are some ways that the play manifests these themes? Use examples from the text to show how time is a major theme and what the play’s message about time is.
Why do you think the playwright begins the play on Catherine’s birthday? What is the significance of this day?
If Catherine is the protagonist, who do you think is the antagonist and why? Use evidence from the text to back your argument.
How is Claire different from Catherine? How are their lives different?
What is the significance of gender and gender roles in the play? How does Catherine’s role as a woman hinder her (or help her)? Use specific evidence from the text.
