the ones who walk away from omelas
prompt: answer these first individually. answer with a thesis statement + explanation.
#1a. how is the reader (you) in conflict with the narrator?
#1b. the plot of the story is defined as a planned series of actions and events that take place in the work. the action of the plot progresses because of the conflict or struggle between opposing forces... there is rising action, a climax, and falling action. what is the plot of “omelas”?
#2a. please explain completely what ethical trade-off is being made in the story?
#2b. cite with explanation one example in modern-day america that is represented by the dilemma portrayed in “omelas”.
when done, together in groups of 3-4 you will write a shared response based on everyone’s answer. answer with a thesis statement + explanation. complete in a doc (with edit history on) or lined paper.

Question

Accepted Answer

### #1A
# Brief Explanations:
The reader (you) conflicts with the narrator as the narrator presents the utopian city of Omelas, asking the reader to accept the suffering of the child for the city’s happiness. The reader, likely valuing justice and empathy, struggles with the moral implications of this setup, creating a conflict between the narrator’s attempt to normalize the child’s suffering and the reader’s ethical objections.
# Answer:
The reader (you) conflicts with the narrator as the narrator presents Omelas’ happiness as dependent on a child’s suffering, and the reader, guided by moral values like justice and empathy, rejects this immoral trade - off, creating a clash between the narrator’s normalization of the suffering and the reader’s ethical stance.

### #1B
# Brief Explanations:
- **Exposition**: The story begins by introducing the utopian city of Omelas during a festival, describing its beauty, joy, and lack of oppression or exploitation.
- **Rising Action**: The narrator reveals the dark secret of Omelas: a single child is kept in squalor, neglected, and in pain. The citizens of Omelas are aware of this child’s existence and that their happiness is contingent on the child’s suffering.
- **Climax**: Some citizens, upon learning about the child (or as they grow to understand the implications), face the moral dilemma of either accepting the child’s suffering for their own happiness or choosing to leave Omelas.
- **Falling Action**: Those who cannot accept the trade - off decide to “walk away from Omelas,” leaving the city to find a new place or meaning, while the rest remain, having accepted the situation.
# Answer:
The plot of “Omelas” is as follows:
- **Exposition**: Omelas is introduced as a utopian city during a festival, full of joy and beauty.
- **Rising Action**: The secret of a suffering child, on whom Omelas’ happiness depends, is revealed.
- **Climax**: Citizens face the moral dilemma of accepting the child’s suffering or rejecting it.
- **Falling Action**: Some citizens choose to leave Omelas, while others stay, having accepted the situation.

### #2A
# Brief Explanations:
The ethical trade - off in “Omelas” is between the collective happiness of the city’s population and the individual suffering of a single child. The citizens of Omelas enjoy a utopian existence with no poverty, crime, or suffering (for themselves) because one child is kept in a state of extreme neglect, isolation, and pain. The society has to decide whether the well - being of the many is worth the torment of the one. Morally, this trade - off challenges the idea of justice, as the child is denied basic human rights so that others can live in bliss. It forces the question of whether a utopia built on the exploitation of an innocent is truly a utopia, and what ethical responsibilities a society has towards the most vulnerable among them.
# Answer:
The ethical trade - off in “Omelas” is that the entire city of Omelas enjoys a utopian, happy existence (with no poverty, crime, or suffering for its citizens) at the expense of a single child who is kept in extreme suffering, neglect, and isolation. The society must choose between the collective well - being of the majority and the basic human rights and dignity of one innocent individual, challenging conventional moral and ethical notions of justice and empathy.

### #2B
# Brief Explanations:
One example in modern - day America that represents the “Omelas” dilemma is the exploitation of low - wage workers in the fast - fashion industry to provide consumers with cheap clothing. Fast - fashion brands offer affordable, trendy clothing to the masses (the “Omelas - like” happy majority) by paying garment workers in countries like Bangladesh (or even in the US in some cases) extremely low wages, subjecting them to poor working conditions, long hours, and sometimes unsafe environments (the “suffering child” equivalent). Consumers benefit from low prices and a constant supply of new fashion, while the workers endure exploitation. Just as in Omelas, the comfort and convenience of the many (consumers) come at the cost of the well - being of the few (garment workers), and many consumers are either unaware or choose to ignore this exploitation, similar to how Omelas’ citizens either accept the child’s suffering or leave.
# Answer:
An example in modern - day America representing the “Omelas” dilemma is the fast - fashion industry. Consumers (the “Omelas - like” group) enjoy cheap, trendy clothing, but this comes at the expense of low - wage garment workers (the “suffering child” equivalent) who endure poor working conditions, long hours, and meager pay. The comfort and affordability of clothing for the many are traded for the exploitation and suffering of the few, mirroring Omelas’ trade - off of collective happiness for individual torment.

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QUESTION IMAGE

Question

Explanation:

#1A

Answer:

#1B