Le Guin's 'Omelas': A Reading Response on Society and Morality

This essay presents a reading response to Ursula Le Guin's 'The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas,' exploring the story's depiction of a utopian society built upon the suffering of a single child. The analysis delves into Le Guin's contrasting portrayal of the town's happiness and the child's misery, highlighting themes of social contract, individual vs. society, and coming of age. The essay discusses how the story challenges readers to consider the ethical implications of collective happiness at the expense of individual suffering and relates the narrative to modern societal issues, such as the neglect of impoverished children. It further examines Le Guin's use of imagination and allegory to invite readers to reflect on the social constructions within their own societies. The author skillfully raises questions about the justifiability of inflicting suffering on one person for the happiness of others, urging readers to become aware of the moral implications of their choices.

Running head: Reading Response
Reading Response
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1Reading Response
Introduction
LeGuin in her story named “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” reflects on the
real life of modern society. The author portrayed child and other people of the town as two
contrasting factors. The people of the town live in happiness while the children are lest in
permanent sufferings. Till the first end LeGuin sketches the town as an utopian society where
people are seen dancing on the streets, children playing in the grounds and most prominently a
magnanimous triumph as implied by the line, “swells the hearts of the people of Omelas, and the
victory they celebrate is that of life” (Le Guin 1973)
Discussion
While the first half gives the portrayal of paradise like situation, the second of the story
gradually unfolds the brutality of the society. LeGuin skillfully painted how the city, Omelas's
happiness is solely based on the unbearable sufferings that are gone through by the children
through the characterization of a mal-nutritioned, naked, unrecognizable boy of 10-year-old who
has been enslaved.
Individual and society is one of the most significant concept through which LeGuin
portrayed a social contract based on which the city is lied upon. In the story, the author depicted
that need o that every person living in the city must realize that their happiness is depended on
the child’s suffering and the people who fail to accustom themselves with the sufferings of the
child leave the city alone. Hence, a utilitarian issue of a classic nature has been presented by the
author raising question to the readers in order to aware them that it is unjustifiable to inflict
sufferings on one single person against the happiness of others.

2Reading Response
Meanwhile, the other concept presented by the author in the story is about coming into
society and coming of age. The story unfolds the celebration or ritual of coming of age where
every child during the age of 8-12 years old are expected to learn that their happiness has its base
on the sufferings of a child who is abused and neglected. The social construction of the town
gives the opportunity to the children of town regarding their choice of acceptance of sufferings
of the child and lives their live happily ever after or they can leave the town walking alone.
Imagination and allegory is the third concept. The author LeGuin through her narrative
invites the readers to have imagination of the city Omelas as per their wish. Even if the city is
unrealistic and imaginative, it does not matter to the writer, what matters to the writer is the
interpersonal connection the readers feel with the portrayal of the town given by the author.
LeGuin skillfully articulated the narrative which excites the readers to picture the town and its
norms more clearly so that they can relate it social construction of the society in which they live
in or which they have built in.
Conclusion
The author’s presentation in the story can be related with the misery of the children of
the modern society, especially the poor and beggar children. The society simply neglects to
take action for their wellbeing rather indulges into increasing their own prosperity selflessly.

3Reading Response
Bibliography
Le Guin, U.K., 1973. The ones who walk away from Omelas.