In today's society, for the most part, people are free to speak freely, connect with friends and family, and stay in touch with what's happening everywhere. It is not uncommon 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 could lead to death, broadcast agencies are forced to have their reports approved and leaders strategize wars and alliances like expert chess players. All this might seem very daunting, but in reality it is dull compared to the works and ideas of literacy evoked by the English author George Orwell in his novel 1984, which describes the imaginary life under the cruel and all-seeing “Big Brother” regime of futuristic London. Throughout his life, growing up with the examples of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany and later through his military experiences, Orwell witnessed firsthand 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 because it deals with timeless topics such as democracy, censorship, and politics, all of which have remained highly debated topics in today's society. One of the first obvious and troubling aspects of George Orwell's 1984 novel is the attack on civil rights or lack thereof among the Outer Party members in Air Strip One. The culture in which individuals are raised today has instilled in them ideas of freedom of speech, assembly, and freedom from self-incrimination, so much so that individuals feel entitled to these principles and undoubtedly expect the government to always continue to protect and provide them. It is precisely these beliefs that cause the reader to have an instinctive reaction when...... halfway through the paper ...... clearly highlights to the reader's attention that "The state does not seem to have much power either to limit unemployment than to repress violence, what we have to fear is our own ignorance." (Bloom) The real literary merit of “1984” is that, although it may seem exaggerated today; the idea that anything could happen, such as the extermination of an entire race or the adoption of a radical ideology, is always a possibility and to prevent it we must always be vigilant so that history does not repeat itself. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. “George Orwell 1984”. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. Print.Burgess, Anthony. "George Orwell's 1984." Films on demand. Films Media Group, 1980. Web. 30 September 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.