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The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas Literary Analysis

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Science fiction literature usually deals with worlds that are different from our own and the consequences of change as a result of new scientific technologies, discoveries, or different social systems. It is the only genre that shows an outsider’s viewpoint on how a society could run in a different manner, allowing us to envision a desirable future and evaluate ways to work towards it or it advises us of the future we should steer clear of and aids us in ways of avoiding it. Science fiction is often observed in a dystopian setting. A dystopia is an imaginary world that intentionally overstates social problems in order to make a point about society's defects. In particular, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin is a science fiction based short story set in a dystopian society masquerading as a utopian society …show more content…
The city’s constant state of serenity and splendor, for reasons unknown, is made possible by the continuous misery of a single child (403-408). By analyzing the literary elements of setting/atmosphere, theme, characterization, and symbolism, this essay will examine how conflicts can arise through Le Guin's usage of different types of rhetorical appeals. To begin with, the setting of “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” contains two distinctly different atmospheric aspects. The first one pleasantly takes place in the utopian city of Omelas during the Festival of Summer. The air is filled with genuine excitement over the flag-adorned boats, noisy running children, prancing horses, and great joyous clanging of the bells during the festival. In fact, the narrator attempts to describe the immense merriment emitted by the city of Omelas even though he/she continually notes that the description is inadequate and does not capture the true joy and happiness of Omelas. The second one miserably takes place in a small locked room in the basement of a building. In this dark, windowless, and foul smelling room is where

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