Why did the “child in the basement” have to suffer to ensure the collective reputation in the Omelas?

Why did the “child in the basement” have to suffer to ensure the collective reputation in the Omelas?

Why did the “child in the basement” have to suffer to ensure the collective reputation in the Omelas? This question posed from the short story, the people who walk away from the Omelas, written by Ursula k Le Guin tackles real-life society issues hidden in the darkness. These issues include social injustice that is not brought to light because of the fear of judgment and criticism coming from the citizens. In this society, the people highly value social status and its benefits of strengthening their level of pride and honour. The social structure is established by the people and not by a leader. The struggle of restoring honour is dependent upon the lack of knowledge to create a fair system. Another issue that is a cause for uncertainty is the normalcy of unfair human treatment.

The people of the Omelas lack a political system. According to this quote, “the rules and laws of their society, but I suspect that they were singularly few”, signifies the difference of lifestyle between the real world and a capitalistic state, such as how a capitalistic state is more focused on providing the needs of the upper class. A democratic state carries a higher power that provides equal rights and freedoms to all people. The author portrays the Omelas as a capitalistic state that lets the people rule themselves. The transition of power to the people has led them to follow their desires even if it is harmful to the lower class. The freedom that the people carry has corrupted their minds in thinking they are superior to the less fortunate because of their living conditions. The spread of ignorant views originating from the lack of knowledge has diverted the peoples’ focus on societal issues. The lack of knowledge is an explanation as to not knowing the distinction between right or wrong decisions in a situation.

In Omelas, people tend to contribute to wrongful practices because of their personal beliefs as to being socially acceptable. In the short story, “they all know it is there, all the people of Omelas. Some of them have come to see it; others are content merely to know it is there. They all know that it has to be there”. The citizens view the little boy locked in a basement, as a fact of life. They limit questioning themselves although they know they’re wrong, due to the beliefs instilled into their daily lives. The duality of human beings also, morally in this case, is brought out clearly. The people who disagree with injustice are those who decide to “walk away” and never come back. The individuals who support injustice tend to ignore the circumstances of the situation and become centered on their desires, believing that others have to suffer to gain wealth and happiness. The fact that there are two extremes of people in Omelas, those that are morally upright and choose to have no part in the atrocities being committed in the city, and those that turn a blind eye to it, speaks to the duality of characters we have in a society. There are those that will opt to stand for what is right regardless of the repercussions while there are those that are easily influenced to value their luxury over the greater good of others. Again this stems from the lack of knowledge on human rights and what it takes to violate human rights. Majority of the people who live in Omelas view injustice as a social norm that was present for decades.

A majority of citizens that reside in Omelas deem themselves to be superior in belief, wisdom and civility and believe they can do whatever they wish to do. As Ursula K le Guin mentions, “One of them may come in and kick the child to make it stand up. The quote emphasizes the unfair treatment done to the lower class. Those that are the most vulnerable and less unfortunate are most likely to fall victim to these ruthless acts. This mirrors the present society in terms of the huge rift created between the upper and lower class. The rich step on the less fortunate, metaphorically, despite the fact that the wealth of this class of individuals comes from the exploitation of the weak. Politically, leaders exploit our resources in abandon, their corrupt hands digging into our riches leaving nothing for the ordinary citizens who put them in that position in the first place. However, many locals in town think of it as an everyday practice that everyone experiences. This mentality originates from the control the upper-class holds in a capitalistic state like Omelas, since the upper class seems to be in the spotlight and lives happily. The upper-class has grown to believe that their needs and wants are more valuable because of the level of their status in society. Nevertheless, it sets the tone for the people of Omelas who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the matter to retain their honour and to be known as the joyous city.

The theme of individual vs. society is also brought up in the story about the city of Omelas. The child lives in deplorable conditions and undergoes constant abuse by his visitors in the basement. The fact that, despite his suffering, nobody is willing to pity the child if only to sustain the riches which they now lavish in goes a long way to show how self-centered most of our society is. The idea of relying on the slightest bit of humanity or kindness from a stranger to get through hard times is ultimately thrown out the window, as it is not feasible in a world where everyone values their own comfort and success as opposed to the collective success of the individual and the friends, family and even strangers around him/her. This is the ideal world everyone wishes to have, where everyone flourishes and no one lacks, but as it has been portrayed in the town of Omelas, it is next to impossible to achieve.

The town of Omelas also puts to question the true value of happiness. Happiness is usually portrayed as a sense of satisfaction, usually brought up by the success of one in a venture or harmonious relationships with those we love. Happiness in the town of Omelas is, however, corrupt by the deeds done in its pirsuit. The citizens come to realise that the source of their happiness is the suffering of another, the child in the basement. This realization sparks feelings of uneasiness and regret in some, as they realize that their continued success wholly depended on the untold suffering of a child. These are the ones that walk away as the happiness they once experienced in this city has being corrupt by the evil deeds that gave rise to it. The rest who stay and make the boy suffer see no fault in the unfair treatment of a fellow human being provided it ensured their continued success. The happiness from their continued success is unfazed by the actions taken in attaining it, and these are usually the corrupt and greedy in society.

The two components that make up the structure of preventing the growth of certainty in the truth consist of normalizing wrongful acts, and withholding a sense of superiority because of social status built in society. The struggle to restore stability and establish a fair political system for everyone is as a result of holding on to ignorant views and practices. There are various acts of injustice present in society that are typically considered a social norm. People who accept injustice as a social norm tend to refuse to educate others on the importance of human rights. Today we have similar issues in the world, such as in some developing countries that refuse to recognize the rights of citizens in that particular location.