The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas: Setting 1 key example

Definition of Setting

Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis:

Speculative fiction like “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” often uses the concept of “utopia” to dig into ideas about social inequality. A “utopia” is an imagined community or society that possesses highly desirable or ideal qualities for the people who live there. The term is a compound word that comes from Greek, and it literally means “not-place” or “nowhere.” A utopia is a society in which laws, government, and social conditions are designed to create perfect happiness and harmony among people. The concept of utopia is a benchmark for comparing real-world societies and their ethical and moral deficiencies. This story by Le Guin is set in the fictional city of Omelas, which at first seems like the ideal utopian metropolis.