The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas Essay

Omelas is a city designed by Ursula K. Le Guin as a utopian society where the citizens “were not naive and happy [though they] were, in fact, happy. They were mature, intelligent, passionate adults whose lives were not wretched” (1). Their society is filled with bright, sparkly things, where sadness has all but disappeared; “One thing... there is none of in Omelas is guilt” (2). The story makes one question whether a complete utopia can exist because “the people of Omelas are happy people” (2) all they have all they want or need, for “they did without monarchy” (1) and their lives were pleasant. The difference between the people of Omelas and the child kept in the cellar was drastic; the ones who had everything, and the child that took on everyone’s negative emotion. The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas very well could mirror the great depression as the wealthy people had lavish homes, and could afford happiness like the people from Omelas. The child in the cellar could represent the middle and lower-class people who couldn’t afford food and the such.
On multiple occasions, the story tries to convince the reader that their happiness is real-- …show more content…
And if those rules never existed, would society function in an organized manner, basing their actions on common sense and respect instead of preordained rules. The city of Omelas only had a few laws, yet nothing wrong happened, unlike our society, which would spiral into chaos. Things that our current society has deemed unacceptable are embraced in Omelas such as a drug called drooz and it asks the people to “please add an orgy” if it would make the city more perfect for

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