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Walk in Omelas

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Submitted By clynn1106
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Is one child’s horrendous life worth the well being and happiness of thousands of others? There is a great deal of despair in the life of one nameless child in a city called Omelas. This unfortunate child knows nothing of life, except what small memories it has of sunlight, clean air, kind words, laughter and happiness. This child was the chosen one in Omelas, the utopia where everything is perfect and nothing goes wrong.
Taking a look at your surroundings, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and what we take for granted. We take in all of serenity and don’t think twice about it. “Omelas (it’s like) a city in a fairy tale, long ago and far away, once upon a time” (Le Guin 227). How lucky we must be, Omelas is a city full of life, smiles all around, and minimal conflict. The highly anticipated Festival of Summer comes to the city, and all involved are grateful for its presence. The birds flying, harmonic music against the breezy wind. The sound of children, laughing, giggling, playing about, those who are doped up on drugs, making their high, as prioritized as hunger. “One thing I know there is none of in Omelas is guilt” (227). The people of Omelas were joyful, “they were mature, intelligent, passionate adults whose lives were not wretched” (227). The children of Omelas were happy; they were still young and unknowing of the dark side of this utopia and had no reason to show concern. The adults of Omelas knew of the dark side, but blinded their consciousness to the reality and just learned to accept

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