Omelas Literary Response: "The Ones Term Paper

Total Length: 392 words ( 1 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

They know that they, like the child, are not free. They know compassion. It is the existence of the child, and their knowledge of its existence, that makes possible the nobility of their architecture," and the other good things about Omelas (6).

The metaphor of the child is a metaphor for our own, less perfect, but still pleasant existence. In America, while we enjoy relative prosperity, millions still suffer in poverty and want, suffering that could be eased by the price of a plasma television or a cell phone. In other regions of the world, people toil for pennies a day to make clothing we wear cheaply on our backs.
It is easy to forget these people.

In LeGuin's tale, some people walk away from the pleasure of Omelas, unable to accept this societal bargain. As our own society is based upon the suffering of more than one child, the author argues by implication in her tale that there is no reason not to try to save the many whose suffering enables our own comfort.

Works Cited

LeGuin, Ursula. "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas." 1974. [1 Feb 2007] http://www.cbe.wwu.edu/dunn/rprnts.omelas.pdf.....

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