The Incredible Aspects Of Life In Proof

In Proof, there is a contrast presented between the abstract and tangible aspects of life. Claire 's life revolves around everything that is practical while Catherine relies more on things that are theoretical. These choices cause problems in each sister 's life in that they are both disconnected from the real world and neither can relate to other people, including each other.

Catherine focuses on the theoretical, letting her life revolve around things that are not tangible, things that other people cannot necessarily see. Early on in the play, Catherine figures out that the number of days she has wasted because of her depression is a mathematically significant number. Math is a very abstract science and this scene shows how mathematically minded Catherine is. It also shows how easily she is able to think abstractly. Her father helps her mathematically manipulate this number right before he admits
At the party after the funeral, Claire tries to out drink the theoretical physicists and fails miserably waking up with a horrible hangover. Claire does this because she believes, incorrectly, that she is better than the theoretical physicists based on their lack of grounding in the practical world. At the end of Act 1, Claire tells Catherine, "it 's not your fault. It 's my fault for letting you do it." This implies that Claire thinks she can control Catherine. Claire believes she can control people like she can control things. Claire also decides she wants Catherine to move to New York so she can keep a better eye on her. She tells Catherine "it would be much easier for me to get you set up in an apartment in New York" again showing how she wants to control Catherine 's life and does not show regard for Catherine 's emotions such as Catherine 's desire to stay in her home town and her sense of belonging