Joy In Omelas

Omelas is a smaller town beyond the darkness of the fields where the people live with happiness flowing through the air. There are green meadows, tall buildings, red roofs, painted walls and avenues of trees but no such thing as rules or judgment only purely joy. Without any rules can this exist? Within the city in the basement of a public building there is a room which holds a child, no windows, no light and only one door where small a small amount of light peaks through. Sometimes the door is opened where the child can be viewed by the people of Omelas, but is not spoken to. While this child is stuck in the room with no clothes food or water sitting in their own excrement the community lives life with happiness and no distress. Although there …show more content…
Then again why would anyone want to leave a town of such happiness and joy. One day when it was warm “the festival of Summer came to the city of Omelas, bright-towered by the sea. Some streets filled with woman carrying their babies chatting as they walked and others filled with music laughter and dancing”(Le Guin 1). When the word festival comes to mind it brings thoughts of joy happiness and comfort to be yourselves. While walking through the streets seeing snow on the mountain peaks, feeling a light breeze through the air, and hearing a faint cheer followed by the clinging of bells. All of these things can only bring a smile. Then you remember in the back of your mind anything and everything goes in the town of Omelas. The people weren't simple but they were happy and that was all that mattered. There was no judgment, no punishment “they did without monarchy and slavery, yet they are not simple folk and smiles became archaic”(Le Guin 1). A life without rules maybe a life to wish for but for this community it was real. For these people it was all they knew off. A life without rules requires not mistakes no lessons being taught and the possibility it could break. People who forever stay in Omelas this is what life consists of and nothing positive nor negative comes from a change because there is no …show more content…
Realizing my happiness is dependent on that one child wouldn't sit well with me. I would continually ask myself why cant everyone be happy? Having to find the answer would be a goal, something I must accomplish and that must require leaving. In the story it is said “they seem to know where they are going, the ones that walk away from Omelas”(Le Guin 4). Realizing nothing can be fixed with the town, because there is nobody to question and receive answers from I must leave just like the incredibles did. Knowing I may never be able to help that child in anyway would haunt me forever, but realizing so many others I could help would bring hope for the child of Omelas in the