Introduction
Notably, those who leave Omelas would have Mark Twain’s approval. The writer would probably be relieved to discover that not everyone is destroying their innermost subconscious. This thought is reflected by Mark Twain’s title for his essay “The Damned Human Race” (42).
Discussion
Twain outlines a situation in which humankind appears to be driving itself to eternal doom by permitting its dubious nature to obscure the world’s facts. Those who leave Omelas represent what Twain believes humanity will finally achieve: the acceptance of revelation and the truth of Omelas. Furthermore, individuals who choose to remain in Omelas while understanding the facts behind the misery are most likely people he opposes. Twain reinforces this by writing that the man is the only one who collects “his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and with a calm pulse” to destroy his race (44). The author also believes that man has been enslaved in some form and has always kept other people in servitude. This idea is an illustration of man’s cruel nature, which Twain believes would destroy humankind since the residents of Omelas continue to endure the child’s misery to ensure the enjoyment of the rest of the city.
Conclusion
The city is a utopia provided by compromising the child’s well-being. Torturing this youngster to make others happy demonstrates how one innocent person may be exploited for the common good. The Omelas people’s behavior indicates that humanity is selfish, ignorant, and difficult to reform. Living under injustice cannot produce genuine happiness, and decent people would abandon Omelas. Nevertheless, they do not release or try to help the child, and turning away is equivalent to prolonging the abuse.
Work Cited
Twain, Mark. On the Damned Human Race. Hill Wang, 1962.