| A Master's degree student pouts and complains about the people around him as he earns his Master's degree in mathematics at a Bulgarian university.
Although the titular phrase "satisfactory proof" appears in the story only in the non-mathematical context of an individual disproving a stereotype about bushy "mono-brows", it presumably refers to the assessment by the thesis committee that the student's research in number theory was "good enough". In particular, after having sought out Professor Mateev, supposedly one of the most brilliant number theorists in the world, to work with, Plamen is seemingly devastated by Mateev's warm but not sufficiently flattering remarks after his thesis defense:
| (quoted from Satisfactory Proof)
The panel spent only five minutes deliberating his fate, during which time the cookies were devoured. Mateev delivered the news: Plamen's proof was deemed of limited import, but still fine work -- the work of a gifted mathematician. "Congratulations," he concluded with robust colegiality.
If, in that moment, Plamen could be grateful for any one thing, it was being spared a hearty clap on the shoulder. He was not deceived by Mateev's good cheer. He stared at the frames of the professor's glasses, thick and obdurate as the man himself, trying to contain his disappointment. Finally, he said, "Of limited import?"
"Well, of course," Professor Mateev said. "But what did you expect? You are at the beginning of your career. Greater things will come."
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Mateev's remarks seem perfectly reasonable to me, and not at all the insult that Plamen takes it as.
It is not only in this instance that Plamen seems to assume the worst of the professor he admires. He also takes Mateev's challenges to his mathematical claims as actual attempts to disprove them rather than to help him improve his proof. Similarly, his own family and Mateev's relationship with his daughter cause Plamen sorrow. Basically, he's an annoying whiner...but, assuming that this was the purpose of the story, I think it is quite well written and interesting!
Originally published in Harvard Review 28 (2005) and reprinted in Phoel's collection Cold Snap. |
