Can we as a society force standards of perfection, prosperity, and compliance even if it means giving up our humanity in respect for a ‘perfect world?’ In the stories, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula LeGuin, and “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury are all struggling with the common theme of attempting to attain perfection, prosperity and compliance through force but never achieving such high standards in that it is nearly impossible. To create a false sense of control, sacrifices must be made, however, fatal consequences ensue when leaving societies vulnerable. In the futuristic dystopian society story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.,
“...everyone was finally equal,” yet their definition…show more content… The child has done nothing to deserve this life, nor does the child understand their purpose. To exaggerate how perfect Omelas might be the narrator explains how “[w]e can participate in the creation of Omelas, or we can walk away (Knapp 240).” Omelas is a town of prosperity that thrives vicariously through a malnourished and mistreated child who is sitting in a small closet like room in a basement underneath the city. The child “ looks about six, but actually is nearly ten (LeGuin 3),” and very little consideration is shown to the child. The narrator never refers to the child as a boy or a girl nor does it have a name, this unnamed human that sits in a tiny room upon “fester[ing] sores, as it sits in its own excrement continually(LeGuin 3).” The child represents the hardship of Omelas and without the child the prosperity, delight, and beauty of the town would wither ( LeGuin 4).” An entire town's prosperity rests in the hands of a ten year old sitting in it’s own defecation. Additionally, Omelas considers “throw[ing] away the happiness of thousands for the happiness of one: that would be to let the guilt within the walls (LeGuin
