Omelus

Omelus is a fictional city that serves as the setting for Ursula K. Le Guin's short story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas." The story presents Omelus as a utopian society, characterized by beauty, prosperity, and happiness. Citizens enjoy vibrant festivals, artistic pursuits, and a general sense of well-being. The city's idyllic existence, however, is predicated on a dark secret.

At the heart of Omelus's happiness lies the suffering of a single child. This child is kept in a perpetual state of neglect and misery in a dark basement. The citizens of Omelus are aware of this child's plight, and their understanding is that their collective joy and the city's perfection are directly dependent on this individual's suffering. They are made to confront this truth, often at a young age, during a rite of passage where they witness the child's condition.

The story explores the moral implications of this arrangement. Most citizens, after confronting the truth, choose to accept it and continue to live in the happiness of Omelus, rationalizing that the great good outweighs the great suffering. However, a small minority, unable to reconcile their conscience with the city's foundation, choose to "walk away from Omelus." These individuals leave the city, disappearing into the unknown, unwilling to participate in a society built on such a sacrifice. The story does not detail where they go or what becomes of them. "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelus" is a philosophical examination of utilitarianism and the nature of morality.