Quick Summary:
A utopian society thrives where happiness and prosperity reign, but a dark secret lurks beneath the surface, forcing some citizens to confront their moral beliefs and make difficult choices about their future.

About Ursula K. Le Guin:
Ursula K. Le Guin (born 21 October 1929) was an American writer renowned for her works of science fiction and fantasy. Influenced by the writings of Carl Jung and J. R. R. Tolkien, her literary contributions are celebrated for their depth of imagination, philosophical exploration, and focus on social issues. Le Guin was praised by The New York Times as one of the most important and influential writers of her generation, known for breaking boundaries in genre writing and addressing themes such as gender, power, and utopia.

Le Guin authored numerous novels, including the Earthsea series (1968-2001), The Dispossessed (1974), and The Left Hand of Darkness (1969), as well as short stories, poetry, and essays. 

Over the course of her career, Le Guin received numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards. In 2014, she was honored with the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Le Guin passed away in 2018, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of literature.

Printable Story: 

"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" PDF 

Prompt:

In "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas", the narrator presents a seemingly utopian society where the happiness of the entire community relies on the suffering of a single child. Through a complex exploration of morality, ethics, and social responsibility, Le Guin challenges the reader’s understanding of the price of societal progress and individual well-being. 

Read the short story carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Le Guin uses rhetorical strategies to convey her message about morality and complacency.

Prompt:

"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" explores the ethical implications of a society that sacrifices the well-being of one individual for the happiness and prosperity of the whole community. This ethical dilemma has been posited many times in other works of fiction and media such as The Good Place, and "The Hunger Games".

Carefully read the six sources. Then write an essay that synthesizes material from at least 3 of the sources and develops your position on the ethical implications of sacrificing one individual for the happiness or prosperity of a larger community.

Synthesis Materials:

Omelas Source Packet

(The link for the podcast is wrong -- it is here.)

Prompt:

“The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation."

– John Stuart Mill

In "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas", the citizens of Omelas must confront the moral dilemma of accepting the suffering of a single child for the greater good or rejecting their society altogether. The story poses the ethical question of utilitarianism --the philosophy that actions are right or good if they are done for the benefit of the majority.

In a well-written essay, discuss to what extent is utilitarianism an ideology that is just.

Support your argument with appropriate evidence and examples.