Analysis of Modern Society in Relation to 'The Ones Who Walk Away'

This essay explores the parallels between modern society and the fictional city of Omelas from Ursula K. Le Guin's short story, 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.' It examines whether modern society can be considered a utopia, considering the presence of suffering and moral compromises, symbolized by the 'child in the closet.' The essay argues that modern society leans more towards a dystopia, highlighting issues like selfishness, inequality, and the exploitation of labor. It also touches upon the concept of utopian capitalism and its inherent contradictions, ultimately concluding that while some aspects of modern society may appear utopian, the existence of suffering and injustice cannot be ignored. The essay uses the short story as a primary source and incorporates secondary sources to support its arguments.

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Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to make arguments about comprehending about the society
and the children on the topic of the Omelas. This is considered to be a broad topic and the
various issues should be considered in this topic to gain the proper understanding about the
different issues indeed. The modern Utopian society is one of the most important factors to
present this paper. The main question for the argument is the fact whether the children are in the
closet. The modern society and the culture is the main important factor to be considered here.
The present condition of the society has to be considered here to present this paper.
The comparison of the society
The story ‘The Ones who walk away from the Omelas” is the main primary source for
this essay (Le Guin: 275). According to the opinions of the author Ursula Le Guin suggest that
this considers the connection of the modern society with the American culture. She has presented
the facts that most Americans have the habit or tendency of closing their ears and eyes when they
see someone suffering around them. This is completely a selfish kind of behavior perceived in
them. In the year 2016, almost 12% of the people in America had experienced the scarcity of
food and many of them were left to be died. However, this did not attract the attention of the

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common people of the country to provide the aids. The sophistication of the modern society has
been shown here in this story by highlighting the heartlessness of the people of the contemporary
society. On the contrary, the critics have argued that the story represents the cultures of the city
of Omelas in the fairytale manner.
LeGuin has also presented the child in her story to symbolize the suffering of the most
people in this vast word. This is why it has become much necessary for the people to look at the
issues in a gentle manner. The suffering that exists in the story might bring the happiness for
some people. Thus this modern society seems to be much intoxicated by selfishness. The author
has said that the story represents the people who have to work very hard to earn their living and
live in the most miserable conditions (Le Guin: 275). This hard working factor would provide the
happiness for the people of the aristocratic and sophisticated society. In other words, the
comparisons can be made by saying that the farmers have to work very hard and toil in order to
provide the crops to the people of the society. In return, their efforts are very often recognized.
They work in the summer, monsoon and other reasons to grow crops. The people of the high
societies only take those crops for their food.
The critics have argued that the modern society has become a utopia for some people.
The scenario defined in utopia can only be found in the fairytale stories. The argument can be
made by saying that the child in the story might think of the modern society to be dystopia. The
critics have argued that the author LeGuin has presented the Omelas like a topia that might be
just another place in the world. On the other hand, the critiques have come that this topia is very
close to the utopia to be specific. The classic vision of the utopian society reveals the scenario
where is everything is perfect and no sorrows exist. However, the modern society reveals that the
factor of ‘child in the closet’ is very much true in this concept (Moylan: 452). It is because the

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modern world or society of technology has always made the people so much lonely. The children
find all of their solace and happiness amidst the use of those electronic gadgets. The hard toil of
the miserable people like the child in the story is not recognized at all.
The author has presented the existence of the orgies that have been one of the best ways
to eradicate the good old fairytale moods. The author has presented the classical utopia with
some extent of the believable utopia since some people have liked to indulge in staying good
despite they see the various issues within the society (Moylan: 452). Thus it can be said that the
child in the closet in ‘The Ones who walk away from the Omelas” is a dystopia.
Utopian Capitalism
The aspect of capitalism is very much significant in the course of the modern society. The
capitalism is very much productive and it has some inherent problems within it as well. The
effects of capitalism are very sensitive. Through this capitalism the people get addicted to
consume the unnecessary products and more resources in the world are being used. Some critics
have argued that in this way the capitalism might act in a utopian way. The general measure of
utopia is regarding getting more stuff from the worldly resources. The people who are involved
in this process do not indulge in material thoughts or the practical ones. It is because they only
think of the utopian world that concerns with the ultimate happiness. The people are not
concerned with other facts like the several worldly things.
The utopian capitalism is generally seen as a moral philosophy by which the society
expects to solve the evil of poverty within the society. There are several conflicts over the
nations and the social injustice within the society indeed. This will surely help the human beings
to think of a society without the problems of poverty or such issues. They believe all the people

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would be happy in that atmosphere and no one would be deprived of the basic facilities. In the
story, the author believes that type of society can be achieved without the conflicts within the
society and the happiness of people from all sects of the society.
Conclusion
From the above discussion and arguments the essay can be concluded by saying that the
modern society is mostly a dystopia. It has to be said that the condition of the child in the closet
has been evaluated in the essay and the readers ought to find that the child is not at all in a good
condition. Therefore, everything within the modern society is not goody-goody and utopian in
nature. There are serious problems and the ways must be found to resolve them.

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References and Bibliography
Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Ursula K. Le Guin's" Ones Who Walk Away from
Omelas". Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016.
Le Guin, Ursula K. "The ones who walk away from Omelas." (1973): 275-84.
Moylan, Thomas. Scraps of the untainted sky: Science fiction, utopia, dystopia. Routledge, 2018.