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Act One, Scene 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Proof, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Genius and Mental Instability
Family and Heredity
Sexism
Proof, Trust, and Credibility
Caretaking and Sacrifice
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Claire is drinking coffee on the porch, where she has set out bagels and fruit. After a shower, Catherine joins her, and Claire remarks that she looks much better. When Claire offers her coffee, Catherine says she takes it black, but Claire adds milk anyway. She presses Catherine to eat some food, but Catherine flatly tells her that she hates breakfast.
This is the first time that Claire makes an appearance onstage. It’s immediately clear that Claire doesn’t heed other people’s requests. She pressures Catherine to do what she (Claire) thinks is best for her, instead of helping Catherine in the way that Catherine wants to be helped. In this passage, Claire demonstrates this tendency by putting milk in Catherine’s coffee and pressuring her to eat breakfast, even though Catherine explicitly tells her that she doesn’t want milk in her coffee and that she doesn’t like breakfast.
Themes
Claire asks if Catherine has tried on the dress Claire got her or used the conditioner that Claire brought for her. But Catherine hasn’t done either. After a pause, Claire asks Catherine if she needs anything, but Catherine says she is fine and doesn’t need anything from Claire.
Again, Claire is pushing Catherine to do things—using a special conditioner and trying on a dress—that Claire thinks Catherine should do, even though Catherine isn’t interested. It seems as though Claire doesn’t trust Catherine to take care of herself; Claire’s skepticism may be the reason Catherine dislikes her and declines her offers to help.
Themes
Claire wants to host some people after the burial this afternoon, but she offers to only invite people if Catherine feels up for it. Irritated, Catherine insists that she is fine and tells Claire to stop asking her the same question. As Claire explains her plans for the get-together, she keeps checking that Catherine is okay with everything, but Catherine unenthusiastically gives Claire the go-ahead. Pleased, Claire suggests that it’ll be a good way for Catherine to relax after such a difficult time.
Themes
Claire tells Catherine that Mitch says hi and then announces that they are getting married. Catherine barely reacts, although she does manage to congratulate her sister, who merrily chats about the details of the wedding. When Claire asks Catherine to be in the wedding, Catherine agrees.
Themes
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Cautiously, Claire asks Catherine how she is feeling about Robert’s death, but Catherine doesn’t elaborate beyond saying she’s fine. When Claire asks what she will do now that Robert is gone—whether she will stay in the house or go back to school—Catherine has no answers. Finally, Catherine snaps at her sister, demanding why she is asking these questions.
Themes
Claire admits that some police officers visited while Catherine was in the shower to check up on a call from last night. Without emotion, Catherine says this was “nice” of them. Claire asks why she called the police, and Catherine says that she called them about a robbery but hung up because she changed her mind.
Themes
Confused, Claire asks a series of questions to which Catherine responds tersely, but eventually Claire pieces together the story about Hal and the notebook. She gently asks Catherine if she is dating or sleeping with Hal, which Catherine denies. Finally, Catherine realizes that Claire suspects Hal doesn’t exist, and she bitterly tells Claire to phone the math department at the University of Chicago to confirm her story.
Themes
Claire still insists that Catherine’s stories don’t add up: did she call the police on a creepy guy or was she partying with her boyfriend? When Claire asks if she was drinking with Hal, Catherine says no. But Claire points to the empty champagne bottle on the table and Catherine insists she was drinking alone.
Themes
After a pause, Claire says that the police claimed that Catherine was rude and aggressive with them, even hitting one of them. Catherine doesn’t exactly deny it, but she insists that the officers were condescending and disrespectful. When Claire says they were very nice to her, Catherine snaps that “people are nicer to you.”
Themes
Claire asks Catherine if she’d like to stay in New York City with her and Mitch. Catherine says no, but Claire insists that it would be fun, then she argues that it would be safer for Catherine. Increasingly irritated, Catherine insists that she’s not interested in fun and she doesn’t need a safe place.
Themes
As they argue, Hal calls out Catherine’s name and then steps onto the porch. Catherine victoriously announces who he is then furiously tells Claire that she doesn’t need her questions, criticism, or advice—she’s totally fine on her own.
Themes
After an awkward silence, Claire calmly introduces herself to Hal, who asks if he can get some work in before the afternoon. Claire invites him into the house, and as soon as he’s inside, she coyly mentions that he is cute. Catherine scoffs and insists that Claire owes her an apology. Claire replies that while they do need to make some decisions, she should have waited for later in the day. When Claire asks suggestively whether Hal would want a bagel, Catherine leaves.
Themes
