Final answer:
In 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,' the ones who walk away symbolize the moral conscience of some citizens, rejecting the utopian society's happiness built on the suffering of a child.
Step-by-step explanation:
In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” the ones who walk away symbolize the moral conscience of some citizens. The story paints a picture of a seemingly utopian society that is contingent upon the suffering of one child. While most of the citizens accept the child’s suffering as the price for their happiness, some choose to walk away. These individuals cannot bear the ethical cost of their joy and instead choose to leave Omelas, representing the struggle between societal happiness and individual moral responsibility.
The act of walking away reflects an inner conflict and rebellion against a dystopian community masquerading as a utopia. It questions the ethical implications of sacrificing one for the many and symbolizes a rejection of a system built on such a compromise. By symbolically rejecting this scenario, those who walk away embody the idea that a society is morally flawed if its prosperity is rooted in the misery of others.