Ursula Le Guin: Short Stories Lesson Plan

What is the significance of the title “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”?

In this story, it can seem like the main aspect to focus on is the child in the basement. However through the title, Le Guin pushes the reader to focus on a different set of characters. Rather than focusing on the child, LeGuin asks the reader to focus on the people who refused to participate in the child’s oppression. The title speaks to the ideals of revolution. It also points to how easy it can be to be complicit in other peoples oppression as well as how challenging but fulfilling it can be to walk away from that complicity. In other words, the Gwynn appears to be saying that the focus is not...