Now that the electors have spoken, a version of the world depicted in George Orwell’s “1984” is coming to pass. In “1984,” published in 1949 in England, Orwell describes a society dominated by Big Brother, a dictator who controls the tiniest details of all citizens’ lives while demanding virtual worship of their “beloved” ultimate leader. Orwell was far ahead of his time in many ways, including the dating of his dystopia: “1984” arrived 32 years late, in 2016, with Donald Trump in the role of Big Brother.

Consider, for example, a major motif from “1984:” the concept of doublethink, the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in one’s mind at the same time and believe both to be true. Clearly, Trump’s presidential campaign used this technique to maximum advantage, with constant contradictions to confuse issues and voters. When truth is not relevant and facts are not required, a candidate can state the wildest lies and let the audience choose its version of reality. Truth does not matter in the slightest so, for example, a national hero like John McCain becomes just one more “loser.”

Then, there is the Orwellian Two Minutes Hate, a daily period in which citizens in Oceania watch a film depicting the Party’s enemies and express vicious hatred for them for two minutes. Trump used the equivalent of this, encouraging hatred of Muslims, Mexicans, minorities, the poor, primary opponents and brash women such as his opponent in the general election. Violence was encouraged at his rallies, and the despicable denigration of so many Americans as “losers and liars” aided and abetted hate. Just as citizens in Orwell’s Oceania end each Two Minutes Hate by chanting “Big Brother” or “B.B.,” Trump backers chanted his name with gusto at each rally.

A major target of this hatred in “1984” is alleged traitor Emmanuel Goldstein, whose photo on TV screens causes citizens to go into a frenzy and throw objects. The major target of Trump’s hatred during the general campaign, after he demolished each primary opponent, was Hillary Clinton, nicknamed “Crooked Hillary.” Regrettably, the pseudo-progressive movement in America proudly used its own despicable nicknames for Clinton to legitimize gross personal attacks upon her, and circulated a host of false and often-bizarre anti-Hillary stories, contributing to her apparent loss in several key states.

Russian government computer hacking of our electoral process makes it dubious Clinton actually lost; in virtually every other democracy, winning nearly 3 million more popular votes would also win election.

Finally, high in parallels between “1984” and the 2016 American election, there is the meaning of Room 101, described thus by party leader O’Brien: “You asked me once, what was in Room 101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.” For “1984” protagonist Winston Smith, Room 101 was full of rats, his worst fear. In the 2016 election, the rats seem to have carried the day.

Orwell would understand. May America and Americans survive the 2016 election. May we never give in and never give up! Unlike “1984, “this, too, shall pass.

Dr. Eugene F. Elander
Dahlonega