George Orwell- Animal Farm and 1984

Are we living Animal Farm & 1984 in 2024? Learn the similarities in this class.

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How Close are George Orwell’s Futuristic Books Compared to Modern Life?

George Orwell – the pen name of Eric Blair – was a committed democratic socialist and a critic of the British Empire’s colonialism and capitalism. He also was a fierce opponent of fascism. He was so committed, in fact, that he risked his life in the Spanish Civil War on the socialist side. But he soon became appalled at the totalitarian aspects of both the socialist side of that war and the USSR under Stalin.

His novels Animal Farm and 1984 were both written as harsh criticisms of Communist totalitarianism. Many aspects of government and corporate policies and practices in America today seem chillingly like those of Animal Farm and 1984.

Animal Farm is a fable that deals mostly with how socialists use propaganda that promises a better life to people in lower economic classes to overthrow their economic masters. Its small core of leaders then uses that power to better their own lives, leaving the fate of the masses unchanged. 1984 describes the bleak life in a totalitarian nation called Oceania. It describes technology that was just science fiction in 1949, when it was written, but that is common technology today.

In 1984, there is no privacy, there is no truth, there are no relationships – personal, business, etc. – that are not decided by the government. Resistance is futile and even potentially deadly. Terms like “Orwellian,” “Thought Crime,” and “Big Brother” all evolved from this book. This talk will discuss the many parallels between these two novels and life in America in 2024. For starters, think of all the places – both inside the home and outside – where your words can be heard, and your motions can be seen. Electronic devices of all types can do both. And think of all the places where your spoken and written words can be captured and sent to places unknown for further analysis. You may have “approved” this invasion of privacy in some 50-page agreement that you never read, but it is happening. It could be used for marketing OR something more sinister.   Come and learn about Orwell’s writing tonight.

Speaker Bio:

Tom Hagedorn is a life-long learner who has been researching and talking about the many facets of western socialism and progressivism over the last five years. He has previously given talks at EmpowerU on Socialism in the U.S.: A Brief History, ESG: Introducing Our New World Government, American Education and Its Takeover by International Socialism, and Climate Calamity: Climate Change Exposed. Tom is a member of the EmpowerU Board.

Tom has been providing investment advice to individuals since 1983. He has been involved in various political, charitable, and community activities. He has a B.S. (cum laude) and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati and is a CPA and a CFP.