Passage:
"They would like to do something for the child. But there is nothing they can do. If the child were brought up into the sunlight out of that vile place, if it were cleaned and fed and comforted, that would be a good thing indeed; but if it were done, in that day and hour all the prosperity and beauty and delight of Omelas would wither and be destroyed. Those are the terms. To exchange all the goodness and grace of every life in Omelas for that single, small improvement: to throw away the happiness of thousands for the chance of the happiness of one: that would be to let guilt within the walls indeed."
Thesis:
Nelson Mandela once postulated that “We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in any society, a life free from violence and fear". Le Guin's 1973 novel 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' sets the scene of a utopian paradise sustained by the dark secrets of child abuse and neglect. Many of the characters that knew about the constant mistreatment of the child ignited a fight within for individualism versus collectivism as both impacted the political and social sphere of the city. The themes of exploitation, utilitarianism and perception versus reality creates a link between to the ability to progress and sustain the city's happiness and the major human rights violations, it proposes the concept of characters challenging their morals to choose between creating the greatest amount of freedom and enjoyment to the greatest amount of people or to protect the child who has sacrificed everything for the city.
Argument:
Utilitarian thought posits that right versus wrong is based on consequence and this concept is demonstrated in “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.” The passage states “to exchange all the goodness and grace of every life in Omelas for that single, small improvement: to throw away the happiness of thousands for the chance of the happiness of one: that would be to let guilt within the walls indeed,” and this demonstrates that the people of Omelas are content with allowing another suffer if it is for the betterment of the majority. The passage describes rights of the child being infringed on knowingly, yet citizens of Omelas are okay with that injustices continuing if they get to remain happy and prosperous. Similarly, historically and in modern society the wealthy/ruling class willingly exploit the lower class and their labor to gain or maintain their wealth. This can also be likened to the privileged mistreating the underprivileged whether knowingly or ignorantly. Often one’s privilege stems from them taking advantage of all benefits they have over others and gaining from it.
Human rights ensure equality among all regardless of attributes however the mistreatment of people and suffering through utilitarianism undermines one’s human rights. It is therefore necessary to act against these injustices and speak out regardless of circumstances. It is important for persons to know that their happiness and prosperity should not hinge on another’s suffering like the people of Omelas think it is as demonstrated in the passage “… if it were done, in that day and hour all the prosperity and beauty and delight of Omelas would wither and be destroyed.” Article 1 of the UDHR safeguards that all individuals should be awarded the same freedoms and rights and that we should act in a ‘spirit of brotherhood’ to one another. Knowingly allowing the suffering of another and profiting from it as seen by the citizens of Omelas is not acting in a ‘spirit of brotherhood’ and deprives one of their freedoms.
Analysis:
Voice & Tone
In this passage, the speaker is the unnamed narrator who, throughout the course of the story, describes Omelas and guides the reader to compare the utopian city to their own society. Here, the narrator is describing the one condition that, according to them, makes the otherwise unrealistic city of Omelas realistic: the fact the happiness of its citizens depends on the suffering of one child.
The narrator’s tone in this excerpt is unemotional and detached. The narrator maintains a neutral stance in presenting the potential benefit and detriment of choosing between the happiness of every life in Omelas for the chance of the happiness of one: “those are the terms.” In saying this, the narrator takes an objective view of situation and reserves judgement. With the narrator withholding personal judgement, the reader is forced to make one instead.
Literary DevicesThroughout this passage and the story, there is an extended metaphor of a child being deprived of freedom and happiness so that everyone else in Omelas can be happy and free, which is used to present the picture of our own world. In our world we often exploit the innocent and disadvantaged so that the most people can benefit. This is an example of utilitarianism, which believes actions are right if they benefit the majority- even if that action was the torture of a child. This metaphor also shows the ignorance of the privileged. The end of this passage states the importance of this ignorance, that the status quo can only be maintained if they ignore the suffering, “to throw away the happiness of thousands for the chance of the happiness of one: that would be to let guilt within the walls indeed.” This extended metaphor forces readers to wonder if they are living the same way as the people of Omelas: are we ignoring the suffering of others because their suffering benefits us?
There is also imagery throughout this passage through the diction used. Using words like, “vile” to describe where the child is, and words such as “prosperity”, “beauty”, and “delight” to describe Omelas, creates a stark difference between the two places. Saying the child would need to be “brought up into the sunlight”, creates a picture of darkness, whereas these pleasant words about Omelas creates the opposite image. This reinforces the suffering of the child, yet also the happiness of Omelas, making readers decide for themselves if the happiness of all is worth this painful suffering of one.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas seeks to depict real-world issues through fictitious story telling. From an outside perspective, Omelas is an idyllic place where all citizens are thought to live harmoniously away from darkness or injustice. While Omelas may be perceived as a place of happiness, the city inevitably functions off of utilitarian thought where the rights of one are infringed upon for the enjoyment of the many. Similar to the utilitarian state of Omelas, the suffering of the few for the benefit of many is particularly pertinent in the context of real-world power inequalities between the wealthy ruling elite, and the lower class. Comparatively, when inequalities occur between the wealthy and the lower- class, the latter are the ones who suffer as their concerns are often ignored and brushed aside by the elite in the pursuit of power.
In order to protect the rights of all individuals, and to dismantle the power inequalities between the wealthy and the lower-class, it is important for one to first recognize if they profit off of the exploitation of the few, and otherwise, if they are part of the most privileged. Historically, the concerns of minorities have been ignored by those who exploit them and profit off of their labour. By acknowledging ones privilege, and educating oneself on the injustices that plague society, it is imperative that citizens speak up and demand justice by holding those in power accountable. If individuals begin to “walk away” and speak out against power inequalities, this may inspire others to do the same, therefore creating a powerful movement of citizens demanding change. As seen in the story, there is strength in stepping away from a society that has served to benefit oneself however, all it takes is the power of one person to step away, to encourage others to do the same. Change is possible and it begins with individuals putting their privilege aside to advocate for what is right.