Reaction to the Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

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Reaction to "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" Kimberly Amat ENG/125 July 16, 2012 Dr. Dolores Kiesler Reaction to "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" In 1974 Ursula K. Le Guin wrote “The One Who Walk Away from Omelas.” In this story the residents of the city of Omelas are very happy and flourishing. When the story starts the reader is walking into a celebration, the Festival of Summer (Guin pg. 1311). The reader sees a city, a utopia one may say. All is good in the world according to how the story starts. The festival is starting, and unexpectedly the story line changes to something dark and sinister. A child locked inside a closet, afraid of the mops that it sees. Unloved so it seems, no one talks to the child and if anyone does come into the tiny room it is too quickly refill its water and food bowl. The children when they are deemed ready to understand they learn about the presence of the child. When they are taken to see the child, and most of them react with revulsion and distress. When they are taken to see the child they are told that if the child is freed or shown kindness, that life as they know it will be gone. It is accepted as something that must be; though, a resident walks out of town toward the mountains and never comes back. The beginning of the story starts out wonderful, a beautiful city, clamoring of bells, swallows soaring, boats that sparkle with flags and a field with young people naked and horses with streamers of silver, gold, and green (Le Guin, pg.1311). The narrator tells us a festival is going on, a joyful time to be had by all. The narrator works hard to convince the reader that Omelas is perfect in the beginning of the story. The narrator knows the reader does not truly believe in the perfection of a place. The narrator tells us this in so many words, how the reader can add to the story if they so wish too. Add orgies if

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