Analysis of the ones who walk away from omelas

Furthermore, the fact that these вЂњfairest and finest soulsвЂќ (Le Guin 2) belong to men points to an intraspecies hierarchy and more specifically to the androcentricity of the movement, let alone its subjugation of other species or of those considered inferior. In the humanist account, human beings are exceptional, autonomous and set above the world that lies at their feetвЂќ (374). The citizens are presented as celebrating the victory of life which further highlights the humanist tradition that has placed bios and human life above all.ДЄs Neil Badmington postulates about humanism in his entry on posthumanism in the Routledge Companion to Literature and Science(2011): вЂњthe human being occupies a natural and eternal place at the very center of things, where it is distinguished absolutely from machines, animals, and other inhuman entities where it shares with all other human beings a unique essence where it is the origin of meaning and the sovereign subject of historyвЂ¦. By referring to the presence of вЂњthe finest and fairest souls of all men (my emphasis) everywhereвЂќ (2) he alludes to the elitist conceptualization of civilization and culture as comprising of the best of the best (Matthew Arnold). вЂњWhat else belongs in the joyous city? The sense of victory, surely, the celebration of courageвЂќ (2), the narrative voice ironically proclaims and implicitly mocks the seamless venue of optimism and advancement that Humanism allegedly epitomizes. In this sense, the end of human contentment justifies the means that may be employed in the process.

Happiness embodies the communityвЂ™s utmost goal which is ultimately a self-serving end that is a based on a hierarchy of discrimination starting from вЂњwhat is necessary, what is neither necessary nor destructive what is destructiveвЂќ (2). Yet, she/he argues that their and subsequently our (evidently pointing to humanity as a whole) intellectual capacity is by no means to be viewed as inferior and in this vein makes an appeal to human megalomania and belief in individual self-importance. The allegorical nature of the story is laid bare when the narrator explicitly states that вЂњthey were not less complex than us (my emphasis)вЂќ (1) in an attempt to defend their happiness which can be interpreted as naivete or stupidity. They were not barbariansвЂќ (1) an admission that discloses the underlying suggestion that humanity is to be considered barbarian only when domesticating fellow-humans, thus exempting any other species from this potential cruelty. Nevertheless, the narrator informs us that the inhabitants of the city вЂњdid not keep slaves. In other words, the animalistic element is granted a place in the text simply because it can be anthropomorphized and because it is the human that can account for its existence. However, if one takes a closer look at the short story she will realize that the first and only animals that are mentioned within in it are the horses and this happens because they are вЂњthe only animal who has adopted our ceremonies as his ownвЂќ (1).

Up until this point of the narrative one could easily start wondering why is there a need to engage in a critical post-humanist reading of the text since it is not only the humans that thrive and prosper but also the animals.

People are dancing carelessly in the summer festival that is taking place, whilst nature is also participating in the festivity with its clean air, вЂњdark blue skiesвЂќ (Le Guin 1), вЂњbroad green meadowsвЂќ (1) and even horses cannot contain their excitement. Le GuinвЂ™s short story the reader is introduced to an insouciant, euphoric and exuberant way of living in the utopic city of Omelas. This is not an example of the work written by our writers.ДЇrom the very beginning of Ursula K. This essay has been submitted to us by a student.

Analysis of the ones who walk away from omelas