AN ECO-CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF URSULA K. LE GUIN’S THE ONES WHO WALK AWAY FROM OMELAS

Abstract

This study presents an Ecocritical Analysis of Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by applying Greg Garrad’s Ecocriticism Framework. The Greg Garrad’s Ecocriticism Framework consists of six tropes including apocalypse, dwelling, pastoral, pollution, wilderness and animals. Furthermore, these ecocritical elements (The tropes) of the Greg Garrad’s theory is mainly analysed through qualitative research design and close reading technique. Correspondingly, the major findings of the study reveal the hidden themes and the mutual treatment of human beings in a specific area depicted in the short story.  Similarly, Omelas is represented as an ecological allegory where social injustice and moral responsibilities have been polluted by the peculiar members of the society for their own well-being and content. Based on these findings, this study suggests that interdisciplinary study, integrating post-humanism or ethical philosophy with ecocriticism, could be conducted on the similar short stories to investigate further awaited themes, meanings, metaphors, frames, ideologies, identities, stories and cognition by taking into consideration the ecosophy i.e. the ecological philosophy and wisdom.