Question1
To walk away from a utopian society such as Omelas would be an incredibly arduous decision and I do not believe I could bring myself to give up all the joy that is Omelas. The atrocities being committed on the poor child is a hideous thing that would definitely make me consider leaving but, there is a selfish part of me that could not bare to give up my friends, loved ones and the lifestyle I had become accustom to.
To walk away from a utopian society such as Omelas would be an incredibly arduous decision and I do not believe I could bring myself to give up all the joy that is Omelas. The atrocities being committed on the poor child is a hideous thing that would definitely make me consider leaving but, there is a selfish part of me that could not bare to give up my friends, loved ones and the lifestyle I had become accustom to.
My reaction to seeing the child would likely be the same as described by Ursula K Laguin “They feel anger, outrage, impotence, despite all the explanations.” (La Guin, 3). But I too feel like these feelings would be repressed eventually by the constant distraction of all that is good and magnificent about Omelas. It is easy to say that those people of Omelas are greedy and selfish for not leaving but when it comes down to it you must understand where they are coming from as well. After all everyone is a product of his or her upbringing. The way Ursula states the situation is really an ultimatum, “If the child were brought up into the sunlight out of that vile place, if it were cleaned and fed and comforted, that would be a good thing, indeed; but if it were done, in that day and hour all the prosperity and beauty and delight of Omelas would wither and be destroyed.” (4). It is pretty clear your only options are to stay and try to ignore the hidden reality or leave and not look back, there is no half way or even the ability to deal with the problem, it is just personal choice. This really just represents the choice between a Utopia and a clear conscience. Is the society we live in a type of Utopia (far from Omelas) and our boy inside a closet is the exploited third world countries?
Why leave though? Would it change anything? Would i really be making a difference in the child's world? People would only leave to clear there conscious but they must know that the child is still there. To take the child with you would ruin the entirety of Omelas and there is never any protest from the ones who leave, they only fall silent and leave by themselves. The feeling of powerlessness is one that may keep me in the town,as La Guin puts it "...and the acceptance of helplessness, which is perhaps the true source of splendour in their lives." (4).For the ones who leave do little to change what Omelas is. If i cannot fix it why should i leave it?
It is also my reliance on the opinion of others especially elders that would influence my decision. If my parents, friends and possibly people I looked up to or admired stayed and explained to me the need for the child I would assume it is just a necessary evil. After all, there is no guilt in Omelas, and I do not believe it is humanly possible to feel guilt all the time. Eventually the guilt may even turn into appreciation for my life and gratitude of the boy’s sacrifice. As La Guin puts it, “There is no vapid, irresponsible happiness.” (4). Eventually it may even just be swept into the corner of my mind where it is rarely thought of.
La Guin’s story really makes you look deep into yourself and reassess your values. I hope this blog entry does not make me seem gutless for not saying I would walk away from Omelas, and I couldn’t say for certain I would stay either but I am trying to be as realistic as possible.
