Maelzel's Chess Player

The automated chess player "Mechanical Turk", as depicted in an engraving

"Maelzel's Chess Player" (1836) is an essay by Edgar Allan Poe exposing a fraudulent automaton chess player called The Turk, which had become famous in Europe and the United States and toured widely. The fake automaton was invented by Wolfgang von Kempelen in 1769 and was brought to the U.S. in 1825 by Johann Nepomuk Mälzel after von Kempelen's death.

Background

In his essay, Poe asserts that a mechanical chess player would play perfectly, but Maelzel's "machine" occasionally errs, and is therefore suspect. Although it is the most famous essay on the Turk, many of Poe's hypotheses were incorrect. He also may or may not have been aware of earlier articles written in the Baltimore Gazette where two youths were reported to have seen chess player William Schlumberger climbing out of the machine.[1] He did, however, borrow heavily from David Brewster's Letters on Natural Magic.[2] Other essays and articles had been written and published prior to Poe's in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston—cities in which Poe had lived or visited before writing his essay.[3]

Poe's essay was originally published in the April 1836 issue of the Southern Literary Messenger.[4]

Poe's essay asserts that Maelzel's troupe of automata had made at least one previous visit to Richmond, Virginia, "some years ago", at which time they were exhibited "in the house now occupied by M. Bossieux as a dancing academy". Yet, very oddly, Poe gives no precise date or location for his own more recent encounter with Maelzel's Chess-Player, apart from stating that it was exhibited in Richmond "a few weeks ago". No known 19th- or 20th-century biography of Poe discloses when or where in Richmond he witnessed the performance of the Automaton Chess-Player.

Importance

The essay is important in that it predicts some general motifs of modern science fiction.[5] Poe also was beginning to create an analytic method that would eventually be used in his "tales of ratiocination",[6] the earliest form of a detective story, "The Gold-Bug" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". This point is furthered in that Poe particularly emphasized that a mind was operating the machine.

Response at the time of its publication was strong. It elicited responses from the Norfolk Herald, Baltimore Gazette, Baltimore Patriot, United States Gazette, Charleston Courier, Winchester Virginian, and New Yorker (the last of which suggested the article's only fault was its excessive length).[7]

Poe's "Maelzel's Chess Player" was the inspiration for the television short El jugador de ajedrez aka Le joueur d'échecs de Maelzel (1981), directed by Juan Luis Buñuel and shown as part of the Poe-series Histoires extraordinaires.[citation needed]

The essay is cited without name by Walter Benjamin in the first of his "Theses on the Philosophy of History".[citation needed]

The essay is referenced by Jean Cocteau in "Barbette" (1928).[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Wimsatt, W.K. "Poe and the Chess Automaton" in On Poe: The Best of "American Literature". Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1993: 82. ISBN 0-8223-1311-1
  2. ^ Rosenheim, Shawn James. The Cryptographic Imagination. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997: 100. ISBN 978-0-8018-5332-6
  3. ^ Wimsatt, W.K. "Poe and the Chess Automaton" in On Poe: The Best of "American Literature". Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1993: 84–85 ISBN 0-8223-1311-1
  4. ^ Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New York: Checkmark Books, 2001: 146. ISBN 0-8160-4161-X
  5. ^ Rosenheim, Shawn James. The Cryptographic Imagination. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997: 101. ISBN 978-0-8018-5332-6
  6. ^ Krutch, Joseph Wood, Edgar Allan Poe: A Study in Genius, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1926: 99.
  7. ^ Wimsatt, W.K. "Poe and the Chess Automaton" in On Poe: The Best of "American Literature". Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1993: 78. ISBN 0-8223-1311-1

Read other articles:

Truida Heil-Bonnet Na de Steenwedstrijd mocht Truida Heil-Bonnet in de Turnhal Amsterdam een beker in ontvangst nemen (24 december 1947) Persoonlijke informatie Volledige naam Geertruida Johanna Heil-Bonnet Bijnaam Truida Geboortedatum 11 juli 1920 Geboorteplaats Amsterdam Overlijdensdatum 4 juli 2014 Overlijdensplaats Varsseveld Nationaliteit  Nederland Sportieve informatie Discipline gymnastiek Club DOC Amsterdam (Dol Olympia Combinatie) Varsseveldse Gymnastiek Vereniging Olympische Sp...

Wendezelle Gemeinde Wendeburg Wappen von Wendezelle Koordinaten: 52° 19′ N, 10° 24′ O52.32183333333310.394027777778Koordinaten: 52° 19′ 19″ N, 10° 23′ 39″ O Höhe: ca. 67,5–68,5 m ü. NHN Eingemeindung: 1. Juli 1968 Postleitzahl: 38176 Vorwahl: 05303 Karte Lage von Wendezelle in Wendeburg Bild von Wendezelle Wendezelle ist ein Ortsteil der Ortschaft Wendeburg in der Gemeinde Wendeburg im Landkreis Peine in...

Верветна мавпа з викраденою коробкою аспірину, яка не була надійно збережена В даний час екологічний ефект фармацевтичних препаратів та засобів особистої гігієни (англ. environmental effect of pharmaceuticals and personal care products; (PPCPs)) широко досліджується. PPCPs включають речовини, що використо�...

CJ Cheil JedangNama asli씨제이제일제당 주식회사JenisPublikKode emitenKRX: 001041IndustriMakanan & layanan makananDidirikan1953; 69 tahun lalu (1953)(dengan nama Cheil Jedang Co. Ltd.)PendiriLee Byung-chulKantorpusatJung-gu, SeoulWilayah operasiSeluruh duniaTokohkunciKim Chul-ha (CEO)ProdukBahan makanan, farmasi, makanan, dan bioteknologiPendapatan US$ 10,41 miliar (2013)[1]Laba operasi US$ 331 juta (2013)[1]Laba bersih US$ 112 juta (2013)[1]Total as...

The Right ReverendGeorge InnesBishop of BrechinChurchScottish Episcopal ChurchDioceseBrechinIn office1778–1781PredecessorJames RaitSuccessorAbernethy DrummondOrdersConsecration13 August 1778by William FalconerPersonal detailsBorn1717Died18 May 1781DenominationAnglican Styles ofGeorge InnesReference styleThe Right ReverendSpoken styleMy Lord or Bishop Christianity portal George Innes (1717–1781) was an Anglican clergyman who served in the Scottish Episcopal Church as the Bishop of Bre...

Shendy Puspa IrawatiInformasi pribadiKebangsaan IndonesiaLahir20 Mei 1987 (umur 36)Nganjuk, Jawa Timur, IndonesiaTinggi176 m (577 ft 5 in)PeganganKananGanda putri & ganda campuranPeringkat tertinggi8 Meiliana Jauhari (4 Desember 2009)Peringkat saat ini15 Fran Kurniawan (15 November 2012) Shendy Puspa Irawati (lahir 20 Mei 1987) adalah pemain bulu tangkis wanita dari Indonesia berpasangan dengan Fran Kurniawan. Shendy bersaing dalam pertandingan ganda put...

Future total solar eclipse Solar eclipse of September 4, 2100MapType of eclipseNatureTotalGamma−0.3384Magnitude1.0402Maximum eclipseDuration212 sec (3 m 32 s)Coordinates10°30′S 39°00′E / 10.5°S 39°E / -10.5; 39Max. width of band142 km (88 mi)Times (UTC)Greatest eclipse8:49:20ReferencesSaros146 (32 of 76)Catalog # (SE5000)9734 A total solar eclipse is forecast to occur on September 4, 2100. It will be the last solar eclipse o...

السعيدية البحرية  -  قرية مصرية -  تقسيم إداري البلد  مصر[1] التقسيم الأعلى محافظة دمياط  المسؤولون إحداثيات 31°23′33″N 31°39′50″E / 31.3924°N 31.66393°E / 31.3924; 31.66393  معلومات أخرى التوقيت ت ع م+02:00  الرمز الجغرافي 421292  تعديل مصدري - تعديل   السعيدية ...

See also: Prince of Condé Princess of Condé Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Princess Ceased to be Princess Death Husband Eléanor de Roucy de Roye Charles, Count of Roucy(Roye) 24 February 1535 22 June 1551 23 July 1564 Louis de Bourbon Francoise d'Orléans François, Marquis of Rothelin(Valois) 5 April 1549 8 November 1565 13 March 1569husband's death 11 June 1601 Marie de Clèves Francis I, Duke of Nevers(La Marck) 1553 10 August 1572 14 November 1574 Henri Charlotte Catherine d...

Electoral history of a British political party The Labour Party, is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom. Formed in 1900, it is one of the two main political parties along with the Conservative Party. In all general elections since 1918, Labour has been either the governing party or the Official Opposition. Since the 2010 general election, Labour has been the second largest party in the UK behind the Conservatives having lost the four last general elections. Since 1918, Labour ...

Voor de gelijknamige quiz, zie Slag bij Nieuwpoort (televisieprogramma). Slag bij Nieuwpoort Onderdeel van de Tachtigjarige Oorlog Zicht op de Slag bij Nieuwpoort door Pauwels van Hillegaert, met linksonder legeraanvoerder Maurits van Nassau Datum 2 juli 1600 Locatie Nieuwpoort bij Oostende, België Resultaat Staatse en Engelse overwinning Strijdende partijen Republiek der Zeven Verenigde NederlandenEngeland Spaans Leger Leiders en commandanten Maurits van NassauErnst Casimir van Nassau-Dietz...

Maximinus Thrax Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus oder Maximinus I. (* 172 oder 173 bzw. bis zu zehn Jahre später in Thrakien (?); † April 238 in Aquileia) war römischer Kaiser von 235 bis 238. Er gilt traditionell als der erste „Soldatenkaiser“. Mit seiner Regierungszeit soll die Reichskrise des 3. Jahrhunderts begonnen haben. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 1.1 Persönliches 1.2 Ausrufung zum Kaiser 1.3 Christenverfolgung 1.4 Streit mit dem Senat 1.5 Tod 2 Rezeption 3 Literatur 4 Weblink...

1928 film Love and ThievesAnton Pointner and Henny PortenDirected byCarl FroelichWritten byFred SauerWalter WassermannProduced byCarl FroelichHenny PortenWilhelm von KaufmannStarringHenny PortenAnton PointnerAdolphe EngersCinematographyGustave PreissMusic byArtur GuttmannProductioncompanyHenny Porten-Froelich-ProduktionDistributed byParufametRelease date8 March 1928CountryGermanyLanguagesSilent German intertitles Love and Thieves (German: Liebe und Diebe) is a 1928 German silent drama film di...

0000 studio album by Efek Rumah KacaEfek Rumah KacaStudio album by Efek Rumah KacaReleased 2007 (2007) 2015 (2015) (re-release) Label Paviliun Records demajors (re-release) Efek Rumah Kaca chronology Efek Rumah Kaca(00000000) Kamar Gelap(2008) Efek Rumah Kaca is the first studio album by Efek Rumah Kaca. It was released in 2007 by Paviliun Records. Production On Di Udara, they assessed market interest for an ideologically or politically themed song.[1] Cholil, the vo...

Cover art by Tim Bradstreet, 1995 GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War is a role-playing game supplement by C. J. Carella, published by Steve Jackson Games in 1995, about using voodoo magic in a GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Playing System) campaign. Contents GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War is a supplement that details the rules for ritual magic.[1] The book presupposes the Shadow War, a conflict between supernatural creatures seeking to destroy the world, and practitioners of the Voodoo traditi...

1969 Cincinnati RedsLeagueNational LeagueDivisionWestBallparkCrosley FieldCityCincinnatiOwnersFrancis L. DaleGeneral managersBob HowsamManagersDave BristolTelevisionWLW(Ed Kennedy, Pee Wee Reese)RadioWLW(Jim McIntyre, Joe Nuxhall) ← 1968 Seasons 1970 → The 1969 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds finishing in third place in the newly established National League West Division, four games behind the National League West D...

Dominican singer (1963–2001) Prince Ital JoeBackground informationBirth nameJoe PaquetteBornMay 5, 1963Roseau, DominicaDiedMay 16, 2001(2001-05-16) (aged 38)Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.GenresReggaeraggaEurodancehip hopOccupation(s)SingerYears active1988–2001LabelsUltraphonic RecordsDeath RowInterscopeMusical artist Joe Paquette (May 5, 1963 – May 16, 2001), better known by his stage name Prince Ital Joe, was a Dominican singer of reggae and ragga best known for his collaborations with Ma...

2023 single by DaBaby Shake SumnCover art for the official remixSingle by DaBabyfrom the EP Call da Fireman ReleasedJune 6, 2023Length2:04Label South Coast Interscope Songwriter(s) Jonathan Kirk Ernest Brown Producer(s)Charlie HeatDaBaby singles chronology 06 Gucci (2023) Shake Sumn (2023) Music videoShake Sumn on YouTubeShake Sumn (Remix) on YouTube Shake Sumn is a song by American rapper DaBaby from his EP Call da Fireman (2023). It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on June 6, 2023 as...

Shopping mall in Georgia, United StatesMacon MallMacon Mall entrance facing Mercer University Drive.LocationMacon, Georgia, United StatesOpening date1975DeveloperColonial Properties[1]ManagementMacon-Bibb CountyOwnerMacon Bibb CountyNo. of stores and services29 (150 at peak)No. of anchor tenants5 (1 open, 4 vacant)Total retail floor area1,080,000 sq ft (100,000 m2).[2]No. of floors2Websitewww.maconmall.com Macon Mall is a two-level, 1.1-million-square-foot shopp...

هذه المقالة بحاجة لصندوق معلومات. فضلًا ساعد في تحسين هذه المقالة بإضافة صندوق معلومات مخصص إليها. يفتقر محتوى هذه المقالة إلى الاستشهاد بمصادر. فضلاً، ساهم في تطوير هذه المقالة من خلال إضافة مصادر موثوق بها. أي معلومات غير موثقة يمكن التشكيك بها وإزالتها. (يوليو 2013) مصطلح ي...