Revisiting Alan Turing: Debunking His Stereotypes in 'The Imitation Game'

Alan Turing, a pivotal figure in the world of computing and cryptanalysis, is often portrayed in the cinema as a reclusive genius struggling with societal and personal pressures. However, The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, presents a significantly different perspective on Turing's character and personality. This article delves into the shadows of such stereotypes, comparing the film's portrayal with historical facts and literature.

Introduction to Alan Turing’s Real Life

Alan Turing played a crucial role during World War II, working for the British government to decrypt German intelligence messages. While the conflict in The Imitation Game is dramatic and engaging, it portrays Turing as more reclusive and confrontational than reality reflects.

The Stereotype in The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game presents an essential element of Turing's character as autistic, which is rooted in the book by Andrew Hodges. However, the film's portrayal is largely exaggerated. Cumberbatch's character Alan is shown as someone who doesn't understand jokes, takes common expressions literally, and seems indifferent to the suffering and annoyance he causes others. These traits are more aligned with the narcissistic and detached character found in the BBC drama series Sherlock rather than the actual Turing.

The Real Alan Turing

In reality, Turing was much more complex and nuanced. According to a 2011 article by Alan Garner in The Guardian, Turing was a charming and close friend to many. Garner met Turing while jogging in the 1950s and remembered him as a person with a keen sense of humor and close friends. Andrew Hodges, in his biography on Turing, describes Alan as shy, eccentric, and impatience with irrationality, but also as someone who could be both charming and engaging.

Colleagues' Recollections

Despite his eccentricities and occasional brusqueness, Turing was also described by his colleagues as approachable and liked. One of his Bletchley Park colleagues recalled him as "a very easily approachable man" and said, "we were very very fond of him." This description is starkly different from the portrayal in the film.

Characterization of Turing in Real Life

Turing could be difficult, but he could also be ingenious, charismatic, and well-balanced. He was not a lonely and isolated genius. The film's depiction of Turing as a more lonely and isolated figure does a disservice to the complex personality he truly was. Children particularly enjoyed his company and he was thoroughly charming to those he developed a fondness for.

Concluding Thoughts

While The Imitation Game succeeds in dramatizing the life of Alan Turing, the portrayal sometimes overshadows the real, multifaceted human behind the legend. It is essential to recognize and appreciate the nuanced aspects of Turing's character, which include his charm, humor, and close relationships with others, rather than merely focusing on his eccentricities and the challenges he faced.