The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, Ursula K. Le Guin: Summary & Analysis

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…