Present-day Svengali

In the 1894 novel “Trilby,” by George du Maurier, the character Svengali seduces and then dominates a naive young girl. Today the term Svengali refers to a person who, with evil intent, manipulates, dominates, and controls others, influencing their thoughts and decisions. Those easily captivated by a Svengali tend to be persons without deeplyheld convictions. They believe they have arrived at their positions via their own analysis, unaware they have been so thoroughly manipulated.

Donald Trump is a present-day Svengali. With his bombastic oratory and forceful personality, he easily persuades otherwise rational people to embrace total nonsense. Consider the evidence: He has convinced millions that he is a financial genius, despite his long record of business failures and bankruptcies. He has influenced weak-minded, but otherwise decent, people to threaten the lives of judges, district attorneys, and election officials. He mesmerized thousands, many of whom are now in jail, into attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He convinced millions that he actually received the most votes in the 2020 election, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

He has lured previously principled Republicans, like Elise Stefanik and Tim Scott, to forfeit their honor and integrity. Even those Republicans who don’t agree with him have been manipulated into silence. Many are so controlled they will vote for him this fall even if he is a convicted felon.

Vulnerable minds, combined with powerful, but evil, powers of persuasion, create a very frightening future for us all.

Richard London, State College