 LeGuin begins the explanation of Omelas with a very broad, general description of a utopian society. Painting a very ideal, scenic description of the town, “ The ringing of the boats in harbor sparkled with flags. In the streets between houses with red roofs and painted walls…”(LeGuin 1). As well as a calm and festive picture of the streets and residents, “ old people in long stiff robes of mauve and gray, grave master workmen, quiet, merry women carrying their babies and chatting as they walked. In other streets the music beat faster, shimmering of gong and tambourine, and the people went dancing, the procession was a dance ” (LeGuin 1). Giving the reader a foundation to help build upon as the story goes. Keeping it broad as LeGuin wants the reader to add their biases to this utopian town, to make it more believable for the reader. LeGuin continuously enforces the point that the reader doesn’t have the same idea of happiness as the citizens of Omelas. Stating “ Wish I could Convince you. Omelas sounds in my words like a city in fairy tale, long ago and far away, once upon a time. Perhaps it would be best if you imaged it as your own fancy bids, assuming it will rise to occasion, for certainty I cannot suit you all’ (LeGuin 2). The citizens of Omelas’ happiness relies on the community’s willingness to do good for the group rather than the reader’s happiness, relying on doing good for the individual. Utilizing the co-creation of the utopian city of Omelas, as the funnel to exclaim on that point. The example of that is the inclusion of the child in the basement.
The introduction of the child in the basement to the citizens of Omelas, is vital to the continual upkeep of the utopian society. As I mentioned above, the ability to keep the city of Omelas as a utopia is based on the communal understanding of doing good for the community and not the individual. The child is used to teach and remind the children and adults of that. Even though they may feel disgust, “ No matter how well the matter has been explained to them, these young spectators are always shocked and sickened at the sight” (LeGuin 4), the citizens know it will bring the downfall to Omelas if they act on freeing the child. Stating” If the Child were brought up into the sunlight out of the vile place, if it were cleaned and fed and comforted, that would be a good thing, indeed; beautiful it were done, in that day and hour all the prosperity and beauty and delight of Omelas would wither and be destroyed” (LeGuin 4).Thus, those who cannot do good for the group, end up leaving Omelas, walking away and pursue the happiness for the individual.
The Citation used in creating this blog post creates an excellent referral to the text.
There’s a lot of description and citation in this post, but is the ultimate point that the soceity is created for the good of the community over the individual?Isn’t that pretty obvious? What else is there to say about that dichotomy?