Le Guin, Ursala (1975) "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas." In: The Wind's Twelve Quarters: Short Stories. New York : Harper & Row.
Based on your reading of Le Guin's short story, briefly develop two contrasting theories of social justice. With references to the story, what aspects of your theories are explicitly addressed by Le Guin? What aspects are implied? (Not to exceed 500 words).
One Theory of social justice would be that it is fair for one man to sacrifice his joy for the happiness of the other people around him. Thereby putting all the bad on him and weighing himself down so that others may have nothing bad weighing on them. In reference to the story this theory is represented by the child forced to live in the mud room and how the story tells us that, "They know that if the wretched one were not there sniveling in the dark, the other one, the flute-player, could make no joyful music as the young riders line up in their beauty for the race in the sunlight of the first morning of summer." I find it interesting that Le Guin chose to show the person who is dealing with the bad in life as a child because the most common symbolization of children is innocence; showing that it is not just one man who may have deserved the bad things put on him, but it is a completely innocent being who deals with it. Also in the statement, " One of them may come and kick the child to make it stand
up." Le Guin shows that sometimes the bad things inflicted on the child is from the people his suffering is protecting. Further showing the corruption and blame of the people who are safe and the child who symbolizes innocence. Another theory would be that all people should have equality in the distribution of the bad and good things in life. Thus making it fair and equal for all people to be in the same situation and not have one person taking the brunt of the bad things. Or rather as it applies in the story, the people of Omelas share the hurt of the child for the chance that he or she may be happy in growth and perks of life around him or her. When Le Guin talks about the teenagers, men, and women of the town leaving Omelas, I believe it is his way of implying which theory of social justice is the correct one. These people deserting the town that is performing the cruel act upon the innocent child so that they may be happy seems to symbolize what Le Guin himself would do as well as what he believes others should do in that situation. This depiction at the end of the short story leads me to believe that Le Guin is implying the second of my two theories is the proper theory of social justice. That all problems throughout the world should be distributed on each of our shoulders and not all forced upon one so that the rest of us may live in bliss. Also that people should help the most hurt and in trouble people around them and maybe by doing so will find happiness outside of their usual boundaries in life as shown through the ones who walked away from Omelas.
