The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas
Mike Hancho ( JE wrote this 6th period daigles he did not copy it)
Period 6
Essay
The success of society derives from the achievements of the fortunate. This success is balanced by the misfortune of few in the world. Ursula K. Le Guin’s story, “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, efficiently illustrates the theme that as great fortune comes to one, great misfortune comes to another; this dictates the balance of society. This theme is conveyed through the use of two main rhetorical devices, Pathos appeal and metaphors.
The author immediately argues the theme of the story through the use of pathos appeal by applying to humanity’s innately felt emotions. The use of these two emotions places the reader into an alien perspective which gives an alternative viewing point of the conflict presented. The fortunate members of the Omelas society lived very luxurious lives. Initially as the story begins you are presented with what seems to be utopian society. “The horses wore no gear at all but a halter without bit. Their manes were braded with streamers of silver, gold, and green.” as their lifestyle begins to develop in one’s mind the unavoidable sense of envy begins to creep into the mind of the reader. It is only in the nature of humanity that humans strive to become successful, live happily and, “Joyous! How is one to tell about joy? How describe the citizens of Omelas? They were not simple folk, you see, though they were happy.” In the extremes of the emotion envy an individual will simply go through any task in order to obtain its ever so craved desire. The extremes of envy are very present in the minds of the Omelas citizens. “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, depends wholly on this child’s abominable misery.” As the tone of the
Period 6
Essay
The success of society derives from the achievements of the fortunate. This success is balanced by the misfortune of few in the world. Ursula K. Le Guin’s story, “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, efficiently illustrates the theme that as great fortune comes to one, great misfortune comes to another; this dictates the balance of society. This theme is conveyed through the use of two main rhetorical devices, Pathos appeal and metaphors.
The author immediately argues the theme of the story through the use of pathos appeal by applying to humanity’s innately felt emotions. The use of these two emotions places the reader into an alien perspective which gives an alternative viewing point of the conflict presented. The fortunate members of the Omelas society lived very luxurious lives. Initially as the story begins you are presented with what seems to be utopian society. “The horses wore no gear at all but a halter without bit. Their manes were braded with streamers of silver, gold, and green.” as their lifestyle begins to develop in one’s mind the unavoidable sense of envy begins to creep into the mind of the reader. It is only in the nature of humanity that humans strive to become successful, live happily and, “Joyous! How is one to tell about joy? How describe the citizens of Omelas? They were not simple folk, you see, though they were happy.” In the extremes of the emotion envy an individual will simply go through any task in order to obtain its ever so craved desire. The extremes of envy are very present in the minds of the Omelas citizens. “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, depends wholly on this child’s abominable misery.” As the tone of the