Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

Sierra Sabin

Professor Flocco

ICC1

21 October 2014

A utopian society seems truly ideal upon realization of the technicalities incorporated with it. Ursula K. Le Guin illustrates the concept of culture as well as the idea of both compassion and sacrifice in her article “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.”

Le Guin introduces her article by creating an image of a typical day that would be experienced by the Omela people. By describing the landscape along with the white picket-fences around the surrounding homes and parks, a visual utopia is being established. Beyond a bureaucracy, decisions are made among the inhabitants. The state of happiness instilled in the citizens of Omela runs much deeper than the physical attributes. “They were not less complex than us. The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid.” Comparing these occupants to an American society of today’s time period is an appropriate literary device that helps Le Guin’s audience further understand the culture. They were in fact just as complex and intricate as us, they simply lived happier lives.

“Happiness is based on a just discrimination of what is necessary, what is neither necessary nor destructive, and what is destructive.” This quote from the article infers that

they residents of Omela can live simply enough without all of the destructive and disparaging things

of today’s world.

Their happiness and statutes on how they live their lives are not defined by technology, or methods of transportation, or drugs, or other synonyms for luxury. Meaning a multitude of possessions is not equivalent to one’s happiness. Only what is necessary is incorporated into the daily lives of these people. Because competition, slavery, and wars are all considered destructive foundations, they are not, and will never be assimilated into the lives of the Omelas. This also contributes to the lack of government and clergy. Letting the inhabitants to wander about and rule themselves is the idealist version of upholding a

community.
The theme of cultural identity is one of importance in this short story. The issue of good versus bad is another important characteristic of the story. Reasoning as to why people who leave this paradise are questioned. The aspect of sacrifice is explained near the middle of the article. Despite all the beauty of the city of Omela, it all rides upon the suffering of a child. While majority of the inhabitants accept this fact, there are some that are contingent on helping. Only after understanding that if the child were cleaned up, nourished properly, and taken out of the neglected basement, the prosperity of the Omelas would be destroyed. “…They all understand that their happiness…even the abundance of their harvest and the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this child’s abominable misery,” (Le Guin 235). After hearing this, those who prove to be impotent then leave the town of Omela. Or in the rare case, they walk away not speaking for days at a time. Doing this and not changing the system, moreover being a bystander to this single inhumane act. This alone demonstrates the defiance of humanity. “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,” (Le Guin 235). This sole quote sets the tone for this civilization.
The particular notion of compassion in this utopia is one to be defined. The lifestyle of this particular culture is overall more admirable and desirable than the poverty that exists in our present nation.