Which is very much the case with some of Omelas citizens when they see the conditions that the boy is forced to live under. Some will chose to ignore any unfairness while others will decide upon leaving their village, town, city or country. Omelas itself could symbolise the dilemma that some people face when it comes to the things that they witness in life. Something which is completely opposite to how the boy is treated. The horses are also treated with love and affection. If anything a horse which would usually be restrained by a harness is not actually restrained in the story. The horses too may also be symbolically significant as they appear to have a more freedom than the boy does. Yet those outside the cellar are deemed to be privileged and worthy of happiness and freedom. With the boy not being deemed worthy to be part of Omelas. It is also possible that the cellar represents a division in class. The cellar itself represents freedom and how easily those in authority in Omelas can take away a person’s freedom without any explanation being given. There is also some symbolism in the story which might be important. A secret that nobody appears to be able to explain. However in the section second of the story the reality is very much different. In the first section of the story the narrator paints a picture of bliss. Something which is very much the case in Omelas. What a person sees may not necessarily be the reality of what is really happening. It might also be a case that Le Guin is suggesting that within every village, town, city or country. Though again nobody in Omelas appears to know or question as to why the boy must be locked up. The price in this case is the fact that the boy is kept in the cellar. It is also possible that Le Guin is suggesting that there is a price to pay for happiness and freedom.
Though nobody in Omelas knows as to why the boy must be locked up or sacrificed. They may be upset for a day or two but they realise that their happiness and freedom is dependent on the boy being locked up in the cellar. It is also interesting that those who don’t leave Omelas accept what is happening.
This may be important as it suggests that the hierarchy in Omelas may choose another boy or child in time in order to ensure that there is a continuation of happiness in Omelas.
The ones who walk away from omelas free#
With no explanation given as to why the boy is a prisoner. It is as though the boy is being sacrificed in order for others to live a happy and free life. An individual’s happiness and freedom is reliant on the boy being locked up in a dark cellar. Though this may sound illogical considering that the boy is an innocent this nonetheless is the state of affairs in Omelas. So conflicted are these people that they decide upon leaving Omelas because they know that the boy is being used as a scapegoat in order for those in Omelas to be happy. There are some in Omelas who disapprove of how the boy in the cellar is treated. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Le Guin may be exploring the theme of conflict. Le Guin we have the theme of conflict, happiness, freedom, sacrifice, acceptance and control. In The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K.
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