Those Who Walk (For Helle/Helanker) by Chipka
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Description
Once upon a time and all of that, I read a story by Ursula K. LeGuin. To be honest, I read lots of stories by Ursula K. LeGuin. I like good writers and she’s one of the best. But anyway, I read a short story with a deceptively simple (and exceptionally-descriptive) title: I can’t remember the anthology I saw it in, first, but it was a dog-eared book, featuring the works of different writers. I don’t remember the stories, well…I probably do remember them, as I’m sure that there were other good stories included in that rather healthy book, but the one that sticks out is the one with the deceptively simple and plot-revealing title. The story in question (Yes, by LeGuin) was “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.” It won the 1974 Hugo Award, which is quite an honor since the Hugo is an award granted to science fiction and fantasy writers by other writers.
“The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” is, what some writers would call “…a simple story, simply told,” only it’s a lot more complicated than that. It isn’t simple at all. It’s a humdinger of a tale. It’s a meditation, a coming-of-age story, a pure, descriptive narrative in which the central character is Omelas itself. Omelas is, in short, Utopia. But it isn’t the “Land of Milk and Honey” sort of Utopia (hell on earth for anyone lactose intolerant!) No, it’s a real utopia, full of intelligent, engaged, and engaging human beings. It is utopian in that it’s a place ruled by political anarchy. There are no monolithic leaders. There is no religion. There are no power structures. Rulers are servants who may relinquish their office at any time. There are godless temples…priestless temples…if they can even be called that. Everyone is happy. Everyone is healthy. Everyone is fully aware of why their sort of Utopia exists…which brings us to the crux of the story. There are those who, for one very specific reason, chose to simply leave, to walk away from Omelas.
It wasn’t until much, much later, that I gave much thought to that story: it’s complicated, deliciously elegant, and terrifying in its implications. It asks dangerous questions about responsibility, suffering, sacrifice, and the relationships those things share with happiness, health, and freedom. We are left with a mystery at the end of the story. There are those who walk away from Omelas, and we like to think a particular thing about them, but the most shocking of questions posed by that story are the questions we (if we’re honest) dare not answer, or if we do…we must then ask what becomes necessary for the defense of our own point of view.
This image actually has nothing to do with that story: not overtly, anyway. I began this image as just a little bit of fiddling around. I thought it might have something to do with one of the Haiga cities…something to do with that sprawling place just northwest of Gwot; I was also playing with inspiration from Helle. She’s posted various near-abstract, stylized “cities” in her gallery; they were the visual essence of urbanness without the literal aspects of such a thing, but they captured that literal aspect, simply because they are the essence of urban places. I didn’t plan to copy any of Helle’s cityscapes, but I did strive to touch what she touched. This is what happened, and so, I’d like to dedicate this to Helle. She’s done a number of “urban” images, and you can see one of them HERE.
The image here is derived from combined photographs, and shapes drawn with The Gimp.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (18)
Faemike55
Excellent image & dedication. had to go to my favorite online store to see if the story was available - it is and it will be mine by the end of the month. Until I read the story, I will refrain from making any guesses as to what the question(s) might be, or if I dare ask them myself
NefariousDrO
You know, it's possibly more fascinating to hear a writer's view of a story I've read than reading the story itself, in a way. I have incomplete memories of the story you talk about here because I last read it when I was just barely in high school. It kind of amazes me that I read the story before I was even 14, and how I could have possibly understood something like that, yet I was reading a good deal of her works at that age. Anyway, now you make me want to go and read it again! I also found myself thinking about one of the more fascinating (and less commonly known) things about the history of the Mayan cities: many of them didn't just fade into death, but rather the people there made a collective decision to shut the city down, in essence they left civilization to live in grass huts in the jungle. They even carefully closed-down their temples, performing rituals to shut the portals to the spirit worlds and such. They walked away from their cities. Not sure why that's connected because life in those Mayan cities was far from utopia, but it did come to mind.
PREECHER
wow...this is awesome...love the story and your comp. i love the moon and the sky very surreal and i think i see jupiter... :)))...i'm getting yet another hobby...not enough time in life...lol hope all is well chills and thrills
kgb224
Superb capture and post work my friend. God Bless.
auntietk
I like the poster-look this has. Good stuff! Now I can't see this young man doing anything but walking away from Omelas! :P (Did you know LeGuin got that title from reading a highway sign in the rear view mirror? She was going through Salem, Oregon.)
Wolfenshire Online Now!
I like the image... too many words under it though... don't have the attention span for that.. but dang I like the picture.
durleybeachbum
Engrossing ramblings! I shall have to read that story now. As soon as I glanced at the image it recalled something, and of course it was indeed Helle's work!
wysiwig
George Bernard Shaw wrote "Man and Superman" in 1903. Act III is titled "Don Juan in Hell". I don't know if you are familiar with it but your narrative made me go looking for it. I had a vague memory I needed to check. Don Juan, the great lover, is in hell. A pious woman appears and is confused as to why she has been sent there. As Don Juan and the woman, Ana, converse, her dead father comes down from heaven to visit with Don Juan and the Devil. He is in the form of the marble statue built on earth in his memory. This is the passage for which I was looking; ANA Can anybody - can I go to heaven if I want to? THE DEVIL [rather contemptuously] Certainly, if your taste lies that way. ANA But why doesn't everybody go to heaven, then? THE STATUE [chuckling] I can tell you that, my dear. It's because heaven is the most angelically dull place in all creation: that's why. THE DEVIL His excellency the Commander puts it with military bluntness; but the strain of living in heaven is intolerable. There is a notion that I was turned out of it; but as a matter of fact nothing could have induced me to stay there. I simply left it and organized this place. THE STATUE I don't wonder at it. Nobody could stand an eternity of heaven. Perhaps that is why people walk away from Omelas. Perfection, peace and quiet, even Utopia, can become so boring after a while for we humans. We need stimulation, uncertainty, to mix it up now and then. I really like this image, it's roughness. Love what you did with the sky.
Manfred78
for me, the man leaves utopia - maybe it is too perfect for him
helanker
OH! What do I See here. A cityscape so beautifully created by you, Chip. That is great fun to see and I am ever so happy, if I can be just a little inspiration to you with my art. Love that sky you have used in this image. Looks fantastiv. Thank you, my friend :)
flavia49
fabulous picture
MrsRatbag
I love the thoughts and ideas you've raised here; I shall have to have a good think now. As for the image, it's the sky that catches me, and keeps pulling me back, the reaching rough ice growing over the face of the universe, but not yet obscuring the liqht. This looks like a book cover to me...I guess you'd better start writing (or finish) the book!
sandra46
SUPERLATIVE IMAGE!
junge1
Neat render!
icerian
This is fascinatig !
aksirp
urban and fantastic mood in this, like a piece of modern art, superb creation. i like the different proportions!
nikolais
Perfection achieved should be a big tragedy, therefore they say it's out there, next to the truth I don't agree. Both are paths, not destinations. Utopias are their simple models, created by the poor human mind.
Djavad
Coucou...