The Lottery 'And The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas'

In “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, and “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, by Ursula LeGuin, the two authors give the idea of sacrifice and that it is the only way to happiness. Through comparing and contrasting, the reader will see the ways in which the two societies go about sacrifice and how it brings happiness. This essay will compare and contrast the two short stories and the ways they are the same in using sacrifice to achieve happiness.
In both “The Lottery” and “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, a sacrifice or scapegoat, is used throughout the story. A sacrifice is used in both stories to achieve what they perceive to be “happiness”. In both stories everyone participates in the using of a sacrifice and everyone gains happiness from it - all but the sacrifice itself. “There were the lists to make up - of heads of families, heads of households in each family, members of each household in each family.” (Jackson, 1). This quote helps show that every person gets a chance in winning the lottery and how it has a “fair” advantage. “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original
black box, they still remember to use stones” (Jackson, 7). Here it is stating that everyone does participate in the stoning of the sacrifice and they don’t try to stop it because they feel it is the right thing - the only way to happiness. “They all know it is there, all the people of Omelas. Some of them understand why, and some do not, but they all understand that their happiness, the beauty of their city, the tenderness of their friendships, the health of their children, the wisdom of their scholars, the skill of their makers, even the abundance of their harvest and the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this child’s abominable misery” (LeGuin, 1). By this being said, it shows how important sacrifice is to the citizens daily lives. Through both stories it shows how the citizens not only participate in the sacrificing, but also depend on it to live and to live a happy life.
Even though this seems to be the way the citizens gain happiness, through what they do they have lost their innocence and sense of morals; children more than adults. “This is usually explained to children when they are between eight and twelve, whenever they seem capable of understanding...No matter how well the matter has been explained to them, these young spectators are always shocked and sickened at the sight.” (LeGuin, 3). This quote from “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” shows the innocence that is lost through the sight that the children. It also shows how the adults of the community try to help explain the matter to the children because this is needed for the society. They want them to lose their feelings and their innocence so that they can accept the fact that this is the way they receive happiness. “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones…” (Jackson, 1). In “The Lottery”, this quote shows how the children gather rocks because they participate in the stoning of the sacrifice. They have been taught that this is the way to happiness, so they have lost their innocence as children and they have learned to kill. By this they are no longer live a child’s life, but a life like the adults and they believe it to be okay. Along with losing innocence, the society as whole feels comfortable in how they are living. “They keep walking, and walk straight out of the city of Omelas, through the beautiful gates.” (LeGuin, 3). In “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, this quote is talking about how the people get tired of living there and they just up and leave. By doing this it shows that they are comfortable in leave the child in suffering, and that they only care about themselves. As long as they are happy because of the sacrifice, they will leave the child there in suffering and be comfortable with it. “...they tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play and their talk…And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson few pebbles.” (Jackson, 1). This quote from “The Lottery” shows how the citizens act normal at the lottery, like no one is going to get killed. They feel comfortable with it because they know from it they will gain happiness. Even the children are given stones to throw at the sacrifice that is chosen, and the children do it and are comfortable with doing it. Through these two short stories, the reader can see that everyone in the societies is comfortable in doing what they are doing and living the way they are living - for they know that happiness comes from it all.
Even though both stories have many comparisons, there are a couple of important contrasts. In “The Lottery”, different descriptions are made that give an impression of the town being poor. “The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color…” (Jackson, 1). “The women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters…” (Jackson, 1). These quotes help to give an image of how things of the town seem to be or look. Through this an assumption can be made that the citizens of the town feel as if they need to have a person as a dying sacrifice. That through this the economy of the town will go up because there would be one less citizen that needed to be cared for. Therefore, this sacrifice is needed for their happiness. However, in “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, the town and citizens are perceived to be rich. “...between houses with red roofs and painted walls, between old moss-grown gardens and under avenues of trees, past great parks and public buildings…” (LeGuin. 1). “Their manes were braided with streamers of silver, gold, and green.” (LeGuin, 1). Through these quotes, we can see an image being portrayed of the town as being fancy and gaudy. This helps make an assumption that the sacrifice is not used to help an economic gain in the society, rather it is used for personal gain in happiness. In the fact that the citizens know they are superior to another individual which makes their life seem amazing.
In conclusion, both “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, and “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, by Ursula LeGuin, show the society's need for a sacrifice - how it is the only way to happiness.
However, even though both stories compare in the way the citizens handle the using of a sacrifice and how they seem okay with it, there is also a contrast in the reason behind why the way each society came about the idea of a sacrifice. Through the detailed description of the seemingly poor and rich societies, the reader is able to make assumptions as to why the citizens would be okay with the using of a sacrifice. Therefore, both short stories showed the need of a sacrifice for the citizens to live and be happy, and the stories also show a vast difference in each society and its economic set up. This leads to the reasons behind the societies using of a
sacrifice.