데이비드 오번의 『증명』: 관계의 미로와 아포리아에 빠진 군상들의 초상

Abstract

This paper examines David Auburn’s play Proof by focusing on the ethics of relationships and otherness under the premise of the dual meaning of proof. This is an attempt to interpret Proof as a play about relationships, centered on the family and the psychological struggles of Catherine, a daughter who wants to inherit her father’s genius but not his mental illness. In order to explore an aspect of personal relationships that has received less attention in existing discussions, the paper points out that at the root of the conflictual relationship between the characters in the play is the purpose of fulfilling their respective responsibilities. The paper analyzes these issues using Mikhail Bakhtin’s ethics of otherness, the key concepts of answer/responsibility and chronotope, and Michel Foucault’s discourse of the body, which explains why Catherine’s reliability is questioned by those around her. In doing so, I will show that the play is not only a compelling drama about family, genius, and legacy, but also a nuanced exploration of the intersection between power, knowledge, and the embodied experience of disability. Second, I will argue that Proof is a play that asks us to consider the ethical implications of our actions in relation to others and the ways in which our perceptions of reality are shaped by our temporal and spatial contexts. Finally, I argue that the play reminds audiences that navigating the labyrinth of human experience, the search for truth is not just an intellectual endeavor, but a moral imperative that requires empathy, reflection, and the courage to confront our own uncertainties.