Those Who Walk Away From Omelas Rhetorical Analysis

“Those Who Walk Away From Omelas'' is a chilling, allegorical, and dilemmatic short story written by Ursula K. Le Guin which follows the inner monologue of the narrator in a non-linear motion as they construct a foundation of the city of Omelas in real-time. The story begins lightheartedly as the narrator internally converses with the reader as they describe the festivities of the Festival of Summer. They paint a beautiful picture of what this seemingly utopian city and its people might look like, encompassing a broad palette of charming sights and colours. As the narrator continues, they pause periodically to include the reader by asking somewhat rhetorical questions: “Do you believe? Do you accept the festival, the city, the joy? No?” Although …show more content…

If an orgy would help, don't hesitate.” In other words, they do not necessarily care for the fine details, but rather that the reader’s perception of the city is believable. The frequent excerpts and careless tone from the narrator foster a sense of immersion for the reader, transporting them into the story world, and making them feel as though they are there in the moment (Brown, 2023). To accentuate this, the narrator then goes on to reveal the cruel and disturbing reality behind the city of Omelas: the rest of the citizens can only live in peace and harmony at the expense of a child who must eternally live in “abominable misery.” From there, the story dances between the narrator explaining the state of the child and the citizens in the present day. “They all know it is there, all the people of Omelas,” and now, the reader too knows the disturbing truth of the city. By gradually building the idea of Omelas and then slowly delving into the basement in which the child is banished, Le Guin encapsulates the reader in the city itself. Not only does the reader experience the warm and flourishing atmosphere of the Festival of Summer, but they are also forced to bear the weight of the ethical implications that lie beneath the city's