![]() ![]() ![]() The story also show the readers how the difference between utopias and dytopias is perspective. This invites readers to rethink whether oppression is necessary in society, and nudges them to step out of the vicious structures and simply “walk away”. She tells us that the prosperity of the town depends on his suffering, but the how of this question remains unanswered. ![]() Most importantly, the story depicts oppression (faced by the child) as seemingly necessary, without giving any real reason as to why the child can’t simply be removed from his miserable condition and given the comforts of life. This has a defamiliarising effect which Le Guin protrays really well, by taking her readers on a journey from being third-party observers to being right in the center of the violent structures the town of Omelas was built upon. ![]() In fact, they are just like us, which is why she invites us - her readers - to imagine the town in any way that we want. Le Guin makes it clear that the people of the town of Omelas are not simple folk, nor are they barbarians. This means that it depends on the suffering of a few people for the benefit of many. This is a critique of our society, which is utilitarian. But the story has a harrowing twist, that the happiness of the people and the beauty of the city depend wholly on the misery of a child. The first half of the story is written in a way to exaggerate how perfect everything is, inviting the reader to imagine their own ideal town. “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” is set in a utopia - a place where everything is perfect. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |