In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. LeGuin, the author uses the difference between a happy city and a suffering child to talk about the idea of fairness and what is right or wrong. Omelas is a perfect, joyful place where everyone seems happy. However, the happiness of the city depends on one child who lives in misery, locked away in a dark basement.

First, LeGuin describes the happy city of Omelas, with its festivals, music, and celebrations. The people of Omelas enjoy their lives and are full of joy. However, there is a dark secret: all this happiness only exists because one child is suffering terribly. The author uses this to make readers think about whether it is fair to sacrifice one person’s well-being for the happiness of others .

Next, LeGuin explains how the people of Omelas deal with this situation. Most of them decide to accept it. They believe the child’s suffering is necessary for their happiness. They tell themselves that even if the child were freed, it would not understand joy because it has suffered for so long. This raises an important question: is it okay to ignore someone’s suffering if it means everyone else can stay happy?

Finally, some people in Omelas cannot accept this. These people choose to walk away from the city. They leave because they believe it is wrong to be happy at the cost of someone else’s pain. They go into the unknown, leaving behind comfort and safety to stay true to their beliefs. By showing this choice, LeGuin encourages readers to think about the cost of happiness and the courage it takes to do what is right, even if it means being alone .

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