the ones who walk away from omelas short story

Sometimes also a man or woman much older falls silent for a day or two, and then leaves home. And some leave Omelas:Īt times one of the adolescent girls or boys who go to see the child does not go home to weep or rage, does not, in fact, go home at all. When the children of Omelas reach adolescence, they’re told the dark secret, and some see the child.

But certainly Omelas would be a much less happy place overall, even though this child would be happier. We don’t know what the consequences of breaking the deal would be because we don’t know what things were like before. In any event, every adult knows that a single kind word spoken to this child would violate the terms of the deal. Whether this applies to just this one child, or a succession of children, is unspecified. The deal is that Omelas would be a paradise provided that a child’s happiness is sacrificed. It says, “I will be good,” but the door always shuts without anyone making a reply.īecause the denizens of Omelas made a deal – with what or whom, we aren’t told, but apparently dark magic was involved. Occasionally, the door opens and people will look at it, kick it, and make it stand up. It’s smeared with its own feces, covered with sores, and constantly afraid. Somewhere in the city is a closet where an emaciated child, referred to only as “it,” is locked up. Le Guin says if you can imagine an even better city than the one she describes, then think of that instead. It’s as though we’re being shown a travel brochure for a place that seems too good to be true. The story begins with an elaborate description of a summer festival in an exquisitely beautiful and happy city called Omelas.

The ones who walk away from omelas short story