Chains

by Frigyes Karinthy

To demonstrate that people on Earth today are much closer than ever, a member of the group suggested a test. He offered a bet that we could name any person among earth’s one and a half billion inhabitants and through at most five acquaintances, one of which he knew personally, he could link to the chosen one.

Genres: Short Stories

4 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1929

About the author

Frigyes Karinthy (25 June 1887 in Budapest – 29 August 1938 in Siófok) was a Hungarian author, playwright, poet, journalist, and translator. He was the first proponent of the six degrees of separation concept, in his 1929 short story, Chains (Láncszemek). Karinthy remains one of the most popular Hungarian writers. He was the father of poet Gábor Karinthy and writer Ferenc Karinthy.
Among the English translations of Karinthy's works are two novellas that continue the adventures of Swift's character Gulliver. Voyage to Faremido is an early examination of artificial intelligence, while Capillaria is a polished and darkly humorous satire on the 'battle of the sexes'.

Reviews

[Edward Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a light hearted swirl through the existential mysteries we all share.

It is the base inspiration of the concept, six degrees of separation. Karinthy explores it beyond just knowing people and provides a good turn of the twentieth century context to timeless questions.

Made me wonder about what an inverse six degrees of separation might be.

[Hend · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that I, an egyptian, am reading this work in 2025 is evidence that thoughts and experiences transcend time, geography, and culture. It demonstrates the continuous chain of human consciousness, where no mind exists in isolation.

[Lectoraenlassombras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es muy interesante leer a alguien que cree en la conexión entre personas y,lo más importante,muestre resultados de su experimento. Me gustó mucho.

[همان · Rating 4 out of 5]

از اون داستان هایی که بعد از مدت ها عمیق شدن و فکر کردن توی یه مبحثی نوشته شدن..
.خودش هم میگه که انقدر فکر کردم که انگار این فکر کردنه داره وصل میشه به فکرنکردن، همونطور که بقیه چیزا به هم وصل میشن
#در_4_صفحه_چه_میشود_کرد

[Atilla Ozgur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earliest example for small-world or six-degrees-of-separation in complex networks.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most interesting read this year.

[Giusy Cirillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and wit

[Michael Thomas]

 On my studies of "The Origin of Species", I have decided to take a side journey, just a quick stroll across the street to the ice cream shoppe, with a short story by Frigyes Karinthy called "Chains" (1929). It's only about 5 pages and you can literally download a copy on-line.


     Just as Sir Isaac Newton formulated those laws of gravity, with Albert Einstein conceptualizing what gravity is and how it works, John Donne coined the term "No man is an island", while Frigyes Karinthy delved more deeply into why this is so. We are connected by chains of association. So, I can connect to any other person in the world through these chains. You know, my brother knows so and so, who knows so and so, who knows so and, who knows this factory worker in China (who shall remain anonymous, for fear of reprisals)... There's a Hollywood version called "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon", where Kevin Bacon (the actor) can connect to anyone else in the movie industry in 6 degrees/chain-links or less (Kevin Bacon worked on a film with this actress, who worked with that director, etc).


     Well, with all due respect to Mr Karinthy, I have further addendummed his work with my own premises. I mean, after a 100 years, it needed a fresh coat of paint... We affect and are affected by others through these chains of connectivity. Every interaction we've ever encountered, whether real or imagined, has affected our development to some degree. From birth to death, these interactions are how we develop into who we are, or shall become.


     If I strike my brother in the face, that will probably put him in a sour frame of mind (and, I'll probably get slugged in return). So, he yells at his wife, who in turn screams at her son (my nephew), and so on... So, I could be affecting that factory worker in China, without even realizing it. So, it matters what we say and do.


     Every chain is a tiny fiber. These fibers are woven together into a fabric. That fabric of connectivity is the blanket in which we develop. This is the connective force at work. So, we cannot develop into who we are, or who we shall become, without this blanket of connectivity. This is the FINE PRINT we all signed before we entered this existence (our prenup agreement).


     So, through these chains of connectivity, we can connect to anyone past, present, or future, by degrees/chain-links of separation (even that cave man in the Geico commercials)... For, "No man is an island"... However, Mr. Donne, may I update your poem with a modern revision? If not honoring women by retitling your poem altogether, at least may they have equality? For, although men are likely to have the more elevated opinions of themselves, and thus are more confident and aggressive, women overall possess the higher intellect, compassion, and organizational skills. Yes, women are the superior gender.