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A review by chocorb
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
to say this story was deep unsettling would be an understatement; this book captured me right away and despite being a short story, it made me feel just as much of a shock.
the basic concept was that this wonderful city of omelas, where everyone is happy and there is no dictator or law enforcements for that matter, can only thrive on one condition: a child is locked and starved in a room.
that is horrifying.
if your happiness depends on knowing that one person is suffering, is your happiness even worth it? won’t you spend your whole life knowing someone else, a child, isn’t getting food and is crying out there? that this child’s calves are nothing more then skin stretched over bones?
the whole town needs someone to suffer and to starve, to be treated less than an animal, they are demented.
aren’t they the bound ones though? they don’t know what lies outside omelas, are trapped by their bitter happiness.
i have so many questions, do they need to replace the child, if so, then how? how is a child chosen? how do parents explain it to their kids? and what happens to those who walk away from omelas?
i loved this short story, and hope to read more by this author soon!
that is horrifying.
if your happiness depends on knowing that one person is suffering, is your happiness even worth it? won’t you spend your whole life knowing someone else, a child, isn’t getting food and is crying out there? that this child’s calves are nothing more then skin stretched over bones?
the whole town needs someone to suffer and to starve, to be treated less than an animal, they are demented.
aren’t they the bound ones though? they don’t know what lies outside omelas, are trapped by their bitter happiness.
i have so many questions, do they need to replace the child, if so, then how? how is a child chosen? how do parents explain it to their kids? and what happens to those who walk away from omelas?
i loved this short story, and hope to read more by this author soon!