History Literature / TheOnesWhoWalkAwayFromOmelas

%% * {{Powered By A Forsaken Child}}]].

* TakeThatAudience: The LemonyNarrator makes it clear that they are aware the reader can't possibly accept a utopia without some sort of catch, so it brings up the [[spoiler: tortured child]] with a "are you happy now?" demeanor.

* [[spoiler: FateWorseThanDeath: Being chosen to be the one child on whose suffering the city is founded.]]

* [[spoiler:{{Powered By A Forsaken Child}}]].

''[[http://web.archive.org/web/20070810183849/http://www.twinoaks.org/members-exmembers/exmembers/center/omelas.html The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas]]'' is a {{Meta Fiction}} by {{Ursula K Le Guin}}, written in 1973.

!!''The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'' contains examples of:

* MarySueTopia: PlayedWith: the LemonyNarrator constantly mentions how perfect the town is, but obviously doesn't expects the reader to believe that such a place would exist ''anywhere'' without some kind of price being paid, so eventually the narrator [[spoiler: just drops the description of the child and what is done to it for the sake of making ''the rest'' of the town a MarySueTopia and essentially asks the reader: "There you go, a horrible flaw in the system! Are you happy now?!"]].

* TheShiningCity: Omelas. The narrator describes the city on a glorious festival day, of horse races and music and good cheer wherever you look.

* SdrawkcabName: WordOfGod says that Omelas was named by spelling Salem, O[regon] backwards.

* TownWithADarkSecret: Subverted, possibly. It doesn't seem to actually be a ''secret'' to anyone except the reader and the very young inhabitants.

* DevilsAdvocate: At one point, the Narrator takes on that role. Aside from TheNeedsOfTheMeny and UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans arguments it presents, it also proposes that since [[spoiler:the forsaken child]] is so traumatized as to be irrevocably brain-damaged, perhaps there's no reason not to extend its suffering as long as possible to save someone else from the same fate.

* FreeLoveFuture: The narrator suggests that Omelas has this kind of society.

** Arguably a partial [[SubvertedTrope subversion]]: the narration never quite makes clear if the [[spoiler: suffering child]] is ''really'' necessary or not, merely that ''we the readers'' would never believe the story if not for that element. Which also makes it a bit of a "[[TakeThat take that]] [[YouSuck audience]]!" for being unwilling to accept that Utopia could actually exist ''without'' a price.

* {{Utopia}}: Omelas is this.

''The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'' is a {{Meta Fiction}} by {{Ursula K Le Guin}}, written in 1973.

* SdrawkcabName: WordOfGod says that "Omelas" was named by spelling Salem, O[regon] backwards.

* {{Was It Really Worth It}}: Everyone in Omelas must face this question. [[spoiler: after seeing the suffering child some people can't bear living in Omelas anymore and walk away]]

Far away is the Utopian city of Omelas, where the locals are getting ready to celebrate a festival. The people's joy is untainted for children and adults alike as they enjoy music, horse-riding, and feasts. Yet, despite this complete happiness, the narrator repeatedly tells the reader that these people aren't any simpler or more naive than other people. After describing the prosperous city, the narrator goes on to show the reader the reason for the people's happiness....

* {{Inherent In The System}}: In order for Omelas to run properly, [[spoiler:one child from the city must be kept in absolute misery]].

* {{Powered By A Forsaken Child}}: Omelas relies on [[spoiler:the suffering of a forsaken child]].

* {{Was It Really Worth It}}: Everyone in Omelas must face this question.

''The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'' is a {{Meta Fiction}} by Ursula K. Le Guin, written in 1973.