At times, in order for one to be happy, one may sometimes base and compare their happiness on the misfortunes of others. The Child, in the story "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula K. Leguin, is used as a significant symbol to effectively create emotional responses in the readers mind, and is also used to criticise the members of today's society. Finally in the end, the symbol of the child relays a strong message to the reader, concerning the bases of ones happiness.

Throughout the entire story, because of the effective description used, the author was able to captivate the readers emotions in many different ways. To begin, a child portrays images of innocence, loveliness, and other such beautified characteristics. A child is a human being, who as any other, has feelings and emotions. However, in this short story, the child was portrayed as completely different.

"It is so thin there are no calves to its legs; its belly protrudes; it lives on a

half-bowl of corn meal and grease a day. It is naked. Its buttocks and thighs

are a mass of festered sores, as it sits in its own excrement continually."

Moreover, there is a strong message given to the readers. Although, the author seems as though she is moralizing, the readers are not being lectured to. The reader is given the surroundings of the child, and what the child is subjected to, and are given a choice: accept this treatment of the child, or walk away. (Le Guin, p. 260) Nevertheless, the author also wants the reader to see the irony of the situation where the child is necessary to the society, because the author is trying to tell the reader that everyone needs something against which to compare their existence. One is able to know how well off they are in their country after making the comparison of the lives of people in other countries. As foolish as it sounds, the author is trying to relay the message, without others as a basis of comparison, how does one measure happiness?

In this story, the author gives the reader an idea of how cruel and selfish those in a society can be when it comes to their own fortunes. When the citizens of Omelas see the child, some feel pity, and some don't. "Often the young people go home in tears, or in a tearless rage, when they have seen the child and faced this terrible paradox." (Le Guin, p.259) However, what do they do to put an end to this type of cruelty towards this child? Nothing. Sure they feel as though they would like to, b

Some common words found in the essay are:
Le Guin, Ursula Leguin, Walk Omelas, le guin, citizens omelas, ones walk omelas, Ones Walk, symbol child, le guin 258, message reader, strong message, aware issues, author reader, child subjected, readers mind, child portrayed,
Approximate Word count = 909
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)