In today's society, for the most part, people are free to speak freely, connect with friends and family, and stay in touch with this happening everywhere. It is not unusual to think that everyone enjoys the same rights and privileges, but in reality this is not the case; in some parts of the world, expressing one's opinion can result in death, broadcasting agencies are forced to have their reports approved, and leaders strategize war and alliances like seasoned chess players. This may all seem very daunting, but it actually pales in comparison to the literacy work and ideas discussed by English author George Orwell in his novel 1984 which depicts fictional life under the cruel and omnipresent regime of "Big Brother » of futuristic London. During his life, growing up with the examples of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, and later through his military experiences, Orwell witnessed how easily people could be manipulated and the truth distorted. . It is for this reason that George Orwell's novel 1984 is an important literary work as it addresses timeless themes like democracy, censorship and politics, all of which have remained highly debated topics in today's society . One of the first obvious and disturbing aspects of George Orwell's 1984 novel is the attack on civil rights or lack thereof among members of Air Strip One's outer party. The culture in which individuals have grown up today has so instilled in them the ideas of freedom of speech, assembly, and non-self-incrimination that individuals feel entitled to these principles and undoubtedly expect that the government always continues to protect and respect them. them. It is precisely these beliefs that provoke an instinctive reaction in the reader which...... middle of paper ...... simply highlights to the reader's attention that "the state does not seem to have much power . whether to limit unemployment or to suppress violence, what we must fear is our own ignorance. (Bloom) The true literary merit of “1984” is that although it may feel exaggerated today; the idea that anything can happen, such as the extermination of an entire race or the adoption of a radical ideology, is always a possibility and to avoid this one must always be vigilant so that history does not repeat itself . Works CitedBloom, Harold. "George Orwell 1984". New York: Chelsea House, 2007. Print. Burgess, Anthony. “1984 by George Orwell.” Movies on demand. Media Films Group, 1980. web. September 30, 2013. Orwell, George. 1984. England: Everyman's Library, 1992. Print. Steinhoff, William. George Orwell and the origins of 1984. The University of Michigan Press, 1976. Print.