Code-Breaker
Jun. 16th, 2013 01:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forfattareJim Holt's essay "Code-Breaker" highlights some of the great accomplishments of Alan Turing, despite the many difficulties he faced as a homosexual in the early 20th century. Holt strives to emphasis the genius of Alan Turing and diminish the relevance of his sexual orientation.
In the first paragraph, Holt intrigues the audience to explore Turing life by describing him as "a man of secrets" (337). One of Turing's secrets was that of his homosexual tendencies. However, Holt seems to brush this off as a minor detail of Turing character. When telling of Turing's conviction of 'gross indecency', after the secret of his homosexuality coming out, Holt quickly rebuttals that "[a]nother [secret]...had not yet come to light" (337). Holt's quick and in-depth recount of Turing "breaking the German Enigma code" and "creating the blueprint for the modern computer" (337) suggest these are things much more worthy or remembering than Turing's sexuality.
It only becomes more impressive that Turing was able to accomplish such great things while facing persecution for being homosexual. Holt tells how Turing was subject to a burglary because of his homosexual affairs and under the assumption "that a homosexual would never go to the police (345). Presumably, this line of reasoning made Turing the subject of other crimes throughout his life that may have gone unreported. The ordeal of Turing's hormone treatment after being convicted seemed to do little to faze him as he continued to be an honoured academic and have a special readership created for him.
By placing the details of Turing sexuality in juxtaposition with his accomplishments, and describing his accomplishments with much greater detail, Holt shows that the details Turing accomplishments are much more worthy of being explored. Holt also shows the audience the difficulties that Turing faced as a homosexual, but shows this detail of Turing's character only serves to augment the grandeur of Turing's accomplishments.
In the first paragraph, Holt intrigues the audience to explore Turing life by describing him as "a man of secrets" (337). One of Turing's secrets was that of his homosexual tendencies. However, Holt seems to brush this off as a minor detail of Turing character. When telling of Turing's conviction of 'gross indecency', after the secret of his homosexuality coming out, Holt quickly rebuttals that "[a]nother [secret]...had not yet come to light" (337). Holt's quick and in-depth recount of Turing "breaking the German Enigma code" and "creating the blueprint for the modern computer" (337) suggest these are things much more worthy or remembering than Turing's sexuality.
It only becomes more impressive that Turing was able to accomplish such great things while facing persecution for being homosexual. Holt tells how Turing was subject to a burglary because of his homosexual affairs and under the assumption "that a homosexual would never go to the police (345). Presumably, this line of reasoning made Turing the subject of other crimes throughout his life that may have gone unreported. The ordeal of Turing's hormone treatment after being convicted seemed to do little to faze him as he continued to be an honoured academic and have a special readership created for him.
By placing the details of Turing sexuality in juxtaposition with his accomplishments, and describing his accomplishments with much greater detail, Holt shows that the details Turing accomplishments are much more worthy of being explored. Holt also shows the audience the difficulties that Turing faced as a homosexual, but shows this detail of Turing's character only serves to augment the grandeur of Turing's accomplishments.
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Date: 2013-06-16 11:47 pm (UTC)