The Treason of The Artist - Omelas

"The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas"
Ursula Le Guin, 1973

"The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil is interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain." -page 76

This quote highlights the incredibly ironic truth of most "intellectual " art, writing or stories.  In the sophisticated, intellectual world, happiness is undervalued.  It is an ironic truth that the greater minds of the creative world would likely focus on loss, pain and suffering than triumph, or solace.  However, a case can be made for this affinity.  I must admit, I do find happiness inherently boring.  Happiness is not a story, it is a result, an ending.  Loss however, can be the basis for any number of inspiring, debatable topics.  This quote points out the irony, but does not prove its own advocacy.  However, this is relative to the story itself.

For 3/4 of this story, I was convinced this was an actual utopia.  Or, that is, a utopia for everyone.  The author specifically mentions that one would look for a king or slaves, but they were not present, almost as if to discourage any questioning of the flawless society.  The people of Omelas are for the most part, completely happy.  It is odd, however, that the author specifically mention guilt non-existent before commenting on the guilt of those who go to see the child.  Still, this could be referencing the ones who walk away.  Guilt does not exist in Omelas, for the guilty leave and take no more part in the child's humiliation.

The story itself, seems to be one large oxymoron.  Is perfection achievable?  Can you call it a perfect society for some, even with its dehumanization of this poor child?  The authors phrasing and words all speak out against doubt.  We are led to believe in this cities absolute perfection.  However, just as we begin to accept there is no flaw, it turns out the perfection only exists at terrible cost.  At the necessity of one's complete misery, all others live happily.

It is a confusing commentary on human nature.  We truly are obsessed with sadness, with loss.  Maybe there can be perfection for some, but only if another experiences relative pain.  I am unsure as to why some walk away from Omelas.  The author describes their destination as something even less imaginable, perhaps something even closer to utopia?  Or, instead are they leaving out of guilt, giving truth to the author's earlier statements.  Either way, there is undebatable darkness to Omelas.  People practicing ignorance by choice, may themselves be happy, but at the cost of their own morality and intelligence.  Perhaps I am proving Le Guin's point by fixating on the horrible, and fighting to give up so much happiness at the "small" cost of another's anguish.  Perhaps the author is saying intelligence is stupid, to care is stupid.  By feigning blindness in the face of an evil, we ourselves can be happy.  That sort of happiness, however, is something I neither desire or could live with.  That sort of happiness is evil itself.  By choosing such a satisfaction, making such a deal with the devil, we would continue our fixation with evil through personal practice.