What Are The Similarities Between The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas And The Lottery

Terrible Things Will Happen: Navigating the Perils and Pitfalls of Utopian Pursuits In the neverending imagination of the human mind lies the elusive dream of a utopia, a world where harmony and happiness are everywhere. Yet beneath this facade of a perfect world lies the shadows of terror and cruelty. With the exponentially increasing rate of technology, there is no telling what is possible for humanity. However, the debate then arises on whether or not living in harmony is possible. In Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the authors paint an example of the cruel realities behind the ideas of utopias. Sci-fi versions of utopias often suggest they could never work in reality, serving as

Instead of trying to satisfy everyone, the diversity of human needs and wants must be considered. Lots of people may want a world where they are at ease with everyone, and everyone is equally fed and has the same house. However, this turns out not to be a viable solution at all. Sure, the person proposing their idea is content with their portion of food and their house, but what about other people? If ninety-five percent of the people are in agreement over what everyone should get, then the five percent in disagreement is enough to throw off the whole concept of a utopia. Everyone has to be happy, not satisfied. There will always be that one person who wants more, whether it be power, food, or money. The pursuit of personal perfection is not always aligned with the overall community’s well-being. People’s ideas will overlap, inevitably leading to conflict and disagreement. This idea is portrayed in Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery” where a character, Mrs. Hutchinson expresses her disagreement with the communal ideas when she screams, “It isn’t fair, it isn't right”

Although most people would agree that the suffering of a small group is not worth the benefit of the majority, some believe that minor sacrifice is acceptable if widespread luxury is guaranteed. While it may be plausible in some situations to justify minor sacrifices for the major good, this idea overlooks the well-being and dignity of every individual. This is why utopias are terrible for the majority. An idea like this would lead to a world where people are discriminated against and neglected. Something like this can not exist in the fundamental elements of a utopia. Jackson has a character that states, “There’s always been a lottery” (340). This quote highlights the idea that traditions practiced in the past will not always lead to a better future. In essence, because something has worked once, society should not let it determine the outcome of the future. There is always a better option, whether it be to help everyone, or in some cases, help no one. For generations, humans have searched for a way to bring everyone together. On paper, a perfect world is possible if everyone has the same wants and