Inspiration can strike writers from the most peculiar sources. Ursula K. Le Guin's celebrated short story, 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,' emerged from an intriguing encounter with a road sign for Salem, Oregon ('Salem, O.'), glimpsed through her car's rear-view mirror. However, the profound concept behind the narrative was influenced by both Fyodor Dostoevsky and nineteenth-century psychologist, William James. Le Guin aptly described 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' as a "psychomyth," infusing it with the force of a modern myth. The story can be found in Le Guin's collection, 'The Wind's Twelve Quarters and The Compass Rose (S.F. MASTERWORKS),' housing some of the finest SF short stories from the late twentieth century. Before we provide an analysis of 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,' let us briefly recapitulate the story's plot.
Plot Summary of The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' revolves around a general situation rather than a conventional 'plot.'
In the City of Omelas
The tale unfolds in the fictional city of Omelas, where its inhabitants seemingly lead joyous and fulfilling lives. The story opens with the exuberant Festival of Summer, a grand annual celebration welcoming the season's arrival. The citizens of Omelas participate in a spirited procession that engulfs the entire city. Young boys and girls ride horses while music fills the air, accompanied by melodious singing and the clanging of bells.
The narrator enlightens us that the people of Omelas are not simple folk; instead, they are profoundly content. The city lacks a King and does not partake in slavekeeping. The inhabitants are far from barbarians. Although the narrator admits to a limited understanding of Omelas's laws and rules, they speculate that such regulations are few. The city has blissfully steered clear of consumerist culture, devoid of any stock exchange or intrusive advertisements. The absence of a secret police reflects the city's harmonious existence.
Omelas almost appears as a utopian realm—a city akin to a fairytale, as the narrator confides.
The Basement's Hidden Secret
As the narrative unfolds, the narrator paints a vivid picture of Omelas and its populace before revealing a hidden secret. In the basement of one of the city's "beautiful public buildings" or perhaps within a private residence's cellar, there resides a child of around ten years old, though their malnourished and stunted appearance renders them closer to six years old. This unfortunate child is confined to a windowless room, living amidst squalor and filth. The child receives minimal sustenance, barely enough to stay alive, and is never permitted to leave the confines of their prison.
Once, the child knew the sound of their mother's voice, but those comforting days have long passed. The child occasionally promises, albeit to no one in particular, that they will behave better if someone will liberate them from their room. However, no one ever grants this plea.
The Unspoken Tragedy
The narrator reveals the distressing truth—this desolate, dark, and miserable existence is the sinister secret that underpins the happiness of the entire city of Omelas. The city's prosperity and splendor can only be sustained by subjecting this one child to "abominable misery" perpetually.
As children mature and comprehend the reality, they are informed about the suffering child in captivity. Many are led to witness the unfortunate sight of the maltreated child, and their initial response is a mix of shock, disgust, and indignation. Yet, they remain powerless to assist the child, for they understand that freeing the prisoner would come at the cost of Omelas' prosperity and delight.
The Departure of the Discontented
Despite the majority accepting this cruel bargain, there are those who find the society's foundation intolerable. In the end, they walk away from Omelas, abandoning the city to seek an alternative destination. The narrator knows not where they are headed, but these individuals seem resolute in their direction—becoming known as 'the ones who walk away from Omelas.'
Through this haunting tale, Ursula K. Le Guin presents readers with a thought-provoking contemplation of ethical dilemmas and societal choices. The story lingers in the mind, challenging us to explore the complexities of happiness, sacrifice, and the inherent fragility of utopian ideals.
Critical Analysis of 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'
Ursula K. Le Guin's 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' draws inspiration from a passage by American psychologist William James, pondering the moral implications of a hypothetical utopia built on the perpetual suffering of a solitary individual. The story invites readers to contemplate this ethical dilemma, leaving them to explore the troubling scenario and form their own questions in response.
Morality and Utilitarianism
The concept of Utilitarianism, advocating "the greatest happiness for the greatest number," is relevant to the narrative. However, Le Guin challenges the notion by proposing a situation where the majority's happiness depends not merely on a minority's unhappiness but on actively subjecting that minority to continuous misery. This raises the crucial moral question: is such a system morally acceptable or morally repugnant?
An Uncertain Narrator
The narrator of 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' remains uncertain rather than unreliable, confessing to their limited knowledge about Omelas and its practices. While the narrator accepts the premise that the city's prosperity is contingent upon the child's suffering, it remains unclear why such a condition is necessary.
The Scapegoat Analogy
The story subtly alludes to the concept of the scapegoat, drawing parallels to the Old Testament's ritual. In the story, the child becomes the scapegoat, bearing the burden of the city's collective misery, but with a twist—the child remains imprisoned, the opposite of the original scapegoat's fate. This irony highlights the cruelty of the situation.
Furthermore, 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' can be interpreted as a reflection on affluent societies, where prosperity for the majority may depend on the hardship and suffering of a minority or even the majority of the population.
Individual versus Society
A powerful moment in the story occurs when the citizens of Omelas, having initially been shocked and morally outraged by the child's suffering, gradually come to accept their complicity in the injustice. They engage in mental gymnastics to justify their inaction, convincing themselves that the child's life would not be enjoyable even if freed.
This moral contortion parallels historical instances where ordinary citizens have justified atrocities in the name of a greater good. 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' serves as a cautionary tale on the human capacity to rationalize cruelty when faced with uncomfortable truths.
A 'Psychomyth' for Modern Times
Le Guin described her story as a 'psychomyth,' and its meaning continues to evolve with time. In the context of recent events, the story resonates with public health measures, where difficult compromises and trade-offs are made, leading to misery for some and prosperity for others. It reminds us of the importance of acknowledging the uncomfortable truths that underlie societal choices.
'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' remains a thought-provoking and enduring tale, prompting readers to delve into the complexities of morality, sacrifice, and societal values. Its timeless themes make it a literary treasure with profound implications for contemporary society.
Symbolism in 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'
The Child
The child's role as the sacrificial figure symbolizes innocence and purity. In primitive societies, children were often considered "pure" offerings for gods, and the child's presence as the victim in the story emphasizes the immorality of using innocence to justify collective happiness. Ursula K. Le Guin deliberately portrays the child as being around ten years old, an age of transition between childhood and adolescence. This portrayal highlights the vulnerability and powerlessness of the innocent when faced with societal cruelty. The child's age and the comparison with the carefree child playing the flute underscore the arbitrary nature of one's circumstances, emphasizing the randomness of privilege and suffering in society.
The Basement
The child's imprisonment in the basement or cellar represents its invisibility to the rest of society. This isolation symbolizes the existence of an underclass that is kept hidden and marginalized. The term 'oubliette,' meaning 'forgotten,' further underscores the society's deliberate ignorance of the child's suffering. The basement's underground location also serves as a metaphor for the child's societal position—a subterranean existence far removed from the rest of the city. The child's incarceration in this dark and confined space is a poignant symbol of the hidden suffering upon which the apparent prosperity of Omelas is built.
The Horses
The horses in Omelas symbolize relative freedom and joy in stark contrast to the imprisoned child. They represent the carefree nature of the city's inhabitants who celebrate the Summer Festival with exuberance. The horses' prancing and boasting during the festival reflect the collective happiness and prosperity enjoyed by the majority of the citizens. However, the stark contrast between the horses' freedom and the child's captivity emphasizes the existence of a stark social divide. The horses also represent the freedom that exists for some while others remain oppressed, drawing attention to the uneven distribution of happiness and suffering in the city.
Summer Festival
The Summer Festival carries symbolic weight, representing a time of brightness, joy, and growth. It is associated with fertility and light, symbolizing happiness and prosperity. The festival's vibrant atmosphere and celebrations evoke a sense of communal togetherness and merriment. However, the festival's juxtaposition with the imprisoned child highlights the hypocrisy and selective blindness of the city's residents. The revelers' joy and celebration serve to underscore their willingness to ignore the suffering that sustains their happiness. The Summer Festival symbolizes the indulgence and self-centeredness of a society that turns a blind eye to the suffering of a single individual for the collective good.
The Darkness
The darkness into which the ones who walk away from Omelas venture symbolizes the unknown alternatives beyond the city's oppressive system. It represents the uncertainty of seeking change and breaking away from the accepted norms. The darkness signifies the unexplored path of questioning the city's moral framework and the societal dynamics that perpetuate suffering for the greater good. By leaving Omelas, these individuals embrace the possibility of a better world, one that challenges the status quo and questions the morality of the city's happiness built on suffering. The darkness also embodies the fear and courage associated with stepping into the unknown to confront the uncomfortable truths about their society.
Through skillful use of symbolism, Ursula K. Le Guin crafts a thought-provoking and morally challenging narrative in 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.' Each symbol serves to deepen the reader's understanding of the complex themes explored in the story, including morality, complicity, sacrifice, and the treatment of vulnerable individuals within society. Le Guin's use of symbols allows the story to resonate on a deeper level, inviting readers to contemplate the moral dilemmas and societal dynamics it presents.
Key Themes in 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'
Morality
'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' is undeniably a moral tale that prompts readers to contemplate the ethical implications of causing suffering or turning a blind eye to it for the sake of societal happiness. The story draws parallels with historical instances where individuals were sacrificed to appease gods or secure collective prosperity.
It also resonates with the famous ethical thought experiment, the trolley problem, where individuals are faced with difficult choices that challenge the notion of utilitarianism, emphasizing the importance of the happiness of the greatest number of people.
Complicity
In Omelas, most people indirectly contribute to the child's suffering by tolerating its existence, although they might be powerless to stop it on an individual level. The title, 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,' emphasizes the rarity of those who refuse to be complicit and choose to distance themselves from the society's immoral practices.
The Scapegoat
Le Guin's story mirrors the concept of the scapegoat found in the Old Testament. While the original scapegoat was set free into the wilderness, the child in Omelas remains imprisoned, becoming a metaphorical scapegoat for the city's prosperity. This notion reflects the human tendency to place blame on an innocent individual or group to absolve collective guilt.
Capitalism
Although some interpret the story as an allegory for modern capitalism, the absence of consumerist culture in Omelas and the child's confinement challenge a simplistic interpretation. Instead, Le Guin seems to incorporate elements from different societies to reflect complex themes, avoiding a straightforward allegorical portrayal of capitalism or any specific system.
The story highlights the interconnectedness of societies, where prosperity for some may depend on the suffering of others, emphasizing the need for critical examination of societal structures and their implications.
Vagueness and Universality
One of the strengths of 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' lies in its vagueness, including the uncertain narrative voice. This approach allows the story to encompass universal themes of complicity, morality, sacrifice, scapegoating, and the treatment of children.
By not tying the narrative explicitly to one specific society or ideology, Le Guin's story becomes applicable to a broader range of human experiences, encouraging readers to reflect on the complexities and contradictions within various social systems.
'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' remains a thought-provoking exploration of profound themes, inviting readers to engage in meaningful introspection about societal values and individual responsibility.