The Ones Who Walk Away

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If I were a resident of the city of Omelas in the short story The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula Le Guin, I would not walk away. The people who walk away are taking a step in the right direction by walking away, but they are not actually solving the problem because that child is still locked in the basement. In addition to this, walking away does not ensure in any way a better life. In fact, it is unlikely that they would even have a future at all, as seen in the quote “The place they go towards is a place even less imaginable to most of us than the city of happiness...it is possible that it does not exist.” (pg. 4, Le Guin.)
I do not believe they should have to cease living just for the sake of escaping a life they do not wish to live, and I would not want to leave without knowing where I was going. I also do not think I would be able to leave with a clear conscience knowing that the child was still there and I had done nothing to help his or her situation, especially not knowing there was something I could have done. The …show more content…

It is because of the child that they are so gentle with children,” I firmly believe that it is in human nature to be kind, and they would not appreciate their city any less or be less gentle with their children if the imprisoned child were freed and the awful practice ended. I actually believe that the people of Omelas would be better off knowing that they have a society where everyone is as content and healthy as they can be. That is difficult to achieve, but they are very close. I think it is the duty of those who see the truth of the horror of their city to take action against wrongdoing, and that is why I would not walk away from

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