The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas Literary Analysis

Ursula K. Le Guin's short story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is set in a blissful utopian city, the denizens of which live in an environment of peace and plenty. The parable highlights the sacrifices humans make in order to maintain civilization, the role of scapegoats in society, and the bargains people are willing (or unwilling) to make to maintain peace and happiness, or at least the image thereof. Le Guin's tale raises questions about the nature of a truly moral society, the contrast between outward appearances and the reality underneath, as well as the inherent conflict between the happiness of the individual and the needs of the community as a whole.

Omelas is introduced as a beautiful city by the sea, surrounded by water, green meadows, and snow-crowned mountains, and in the midst of its joyous Summer Festival. The society lacks any apparent hierarchy, with no rulers, clergy, warriors, or slaves. It exists without violence, crime, or coercion, and the citizens are upright. The denizens of Omelas, while peaceful and happy, are not dull and simple folk, however. The narrator explains that the people “were not naive and happy children--though their children were, in fact, happy. They were mature, intelligent, passionate adults whose lives were not wretched” (p. 2).

The city-dwellers

have technology, but none of the kind which is harmful to their surroundings, and therefore seem to exist in a beautiful and unspoiled state of harmony with nature. The people of Omelas also enjoy a stimulant called “drooze,” a non-addictive substance which “brings a great lightness and brilliance to the mind and limbs” (p. 3) as well as causing pleasurable visions and greatly enhancing the enjoyment of sex. The narrator postulates that the the people of Omelas are so happy in their hearts that they rarely partake of the harmless drug.
About halfway through the story, however, a dark revelation is made: underneath the apparent perfection of Omelas and the happiness of its citizens lies the suffering of an innocent. A young child, stripped from its mother, is kept locked in a dark and filthy room. Barely fed and allowed no affection or care, the child exists and suffers solely for the purpose of Omelas' continued happiness. Furthermore, it is not kept a secret from the city-dwellers: “They all know it is there . . . they all understand that their happiness, the beauty of their city . . . even the abundance of their harvest and the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this child's abominable misery” (p. 5). The narrator states that the people of Omelas learn about the suffering child between the ages of eight and twelve.
One immediately recalls the previous passage, “let the offspring of these delightful rituals be beloved and looked after by all. One thing I know there is none of in Omelas is guilt” (p. 3). It is interesting that Le Guin placed these statements side-by-side, drawing a crystal clear contrast between the apparent hypocrisy of the people and their lack of guilt. One is also left wondering if the narrator's speculation that few people use drooze was accurate, or if the citizens of Omela rely on it to drown out any negative emotions and guilt they may feel over the child's state.
It is revealed that if the child is freed and cared for, the happiness and prosperity of Omelas will immediately falter. There are some, however, who do not settle for this bargain. So overwhelmed with shock and disgust upon learning of the suffering child, these individuals refuse to partake of Omela's offerings and depart the city. Some may claim that the moral thing to do is to free the child, but giving into this altruistic desire would ultimately be a selfish act, as suffering would befall the whole of society. If one cannot reconcile the harsh reality of the situation, then perhaps the moral thing to do is to depart the city and refuse to partake of its joys at the expense of the child, like the titular “ones who walk away.” The narrator further asserts that the knowledge of this suffering makes those who stay in Omelas appreciate its beauty and happiness all the more.
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a poignant tale illustrating the nature of civilization, the sacrifices that are made to maintain it, and the human reconciliation of this dark reality.

Although set in a fictional utopia, Le Guin's story has symbolic parallels with our own world, such as the suffering and misery that takes place as civilizations are built and maintained through hardships such as war. The parable also forces the reader to confront these questions about the needs of the individual versus the needs of society and the moral struggles therein, and to decide if one should accept the reality of Omelas and remain in the city, or join the ones who walk

away.