Omelas, A perfect city, where is everyone wise and happy, what a utopia?
Except for the whole, “locking a child in the basement to suffer forever” what an ideal city totally normal, right?
Allow us to take you to the philosophical ride with the work of Ursula K. Le Guin presents through her work of ‘the one who walk away from Omelas’ it is a thought provoking moral dilemma through the setting of seemingly Utopian city.
The summary of the story:
A beautiful phosphorus city filled with happiness, peace, and joy, where people are depicted as wise, cultured and living in harmony without any ruler or any law. The city is celebrating the colours of annual festival, and everything seems perfect --- almost perfect, As long as you are not the one poor child locked in a basement yes, the curtains of ideal city hides behind a dark secret beneath the city a filthy locked room in a basement, single child lives in perpetual misery malnourished, and mistreated, who was confined to the dark damp room with no hope of escape, no show of kindness or compassion. Don’t worry, the city gets a tour of this kid’s Misery feels appropriately horrified for a moment, but then quickly move onto their fabulous life they mean why one little ethical dilemma, ruin the vibe, right?
As the happiness and prosperity of Omelas depended entirely on suffering of this one child, despite everyone knowing about this child, the misery was outweighed by the well-being of many, though the citizens were horrified at first, but they chose happiness of the city over the suffering of the child, however, not everyone could accept this moral compassion Some people seeing the child choose to walk away from Omelas They chose silence and headed towards an unknown destination. The story ends without explaining where they go only stating that they do not come back and no one know what lies beyond the city.
Postcolonial themes explore
• The major theme, this text explore is a big question, Is it totally normal for a whole city’s happiness to be build up by suffering of one poor kid locked in the basement, this reflects classic utilitarian ethics greatest “good for the greatest number” and that all sure one kid has to suffer , but everyone else is thriving, so it’s all good right?
• Another theme, the text under goes is the complexity and moral choices. Basically, the citizens has to decide if they are okay with this deal, which basically resulted most people staying. Of course, who wants to mess with their own comfort? Though they felt bad about the child (just for five minutes) but goes back to their perfect lives, but a few can’t handle it and walk away to unknown destination, this text is all about moral responsibility or at least pretending to have one.
• The third issue is the sacrifice and price of happiness. To have perfect, peaceful paradise, but there’s always a catch of course someone paying for it and by someone we mean that poor kids suffering in the basement while the rest of city has grant ol’ time this theme makes wonder are sacrifice really being made for everyone’s well-being?
• Last, this text explores the theme of ambiguity and resistance. As there are always the mysterious one who leaves where do they go? What do they even want? No idea the story isn’t about to give us those answer, but it sure makes them look like moral heroes, off to who-knows-where, Resisting the whole creepy system, though who knows if anything changes.
This text is old age belief that happiness comes at a price, but instead of just a little hard work or effort, Omelas decide date to take shortcut and make a child suffer endlessly. It makes audience wonder why?
It’s as if someone said “hey, we could have a perfect society, but only if we keep a child locked in the dark room, starving and neglected “and surprisingly, everyone nodded yeah, that sounds a great reason”
This text is a conclusion of a twisted version of utilitarianism, which is taken to an extreme. The idea is simple that if the suffering of one person brings happiness to thousand then it’s “justified” Of course, this kind of belief ignores the humanity of that one person entirely reducing them to nothing more just tool for a greater good
But really, what kind of society convince itself that happiness is something you buy at a cost of a child suffering? It’s not a belief in fairness or equality. It’s a believer in convenience.
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