Utopian Society; A Sociological Literary Review

Throughout history, humanity has always theorized the idea of a perfect world, a place that will fit everyone's needs and desires throughout a society. However the conclusion of this theory is that there is no such a place, and no such world that could ever exist as a perfect utopia. The short story "The One Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin, is another such example of an attempted perfect society with unfortunate imperfect aspects. A comparative will be drawn from this story to other novels and films and the aspect of a perfect utopian society. Lastly, the sociological literary theory will be reviewed on the idea of human utopia and how it relates to the each of these pieces of literature and film.

"The One Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin, describes a perfectly happy town with a hidden evil (a tortured child locked away). "Her story is about a society's use of a scapegoat, a pharmakos, to keep the rest of the society happy." (Collins, 525) Similarly, there are many other novels and films that depict a place having a utopian shell with hidden tragedies inside. "The Giver" by Lois Lowry is a perfect example and comparative. A world was created for its citizens to promote equality and ultimate safety, however instead it revealed the characters in the story feeling oppressed and wanting more from life. Equality meant colorblindness, and no freedom to choose. Safety meant no thrills of life, no excitement. This imperfect utopia created a world where its people were oppressed, unaware, and powerless to have any freedom of will. This poses the question; “What does it mean to belong to a culture?” (Enriquez, 17)

"In The Truman Show, Weir has created a biting dystopian social commentary in which the protagonist is cosmically naive." (Lavoie, 52)

There are also many films that debate this same idea, that the possibility of a utopia can actually exist. The film "The Truman Show" directed by Peter Weir, is about a man living in his own perfect little world, completely unaware that it is all staged to be a television show for millions of viewers to watch. Their show is based on the fact that his life is so great, and everyone watching wishes to live that perfect little life. The irony of it, is that the main character Truman is always left feeling something is wrong, and desires to get away. Is it human nature to seek thrills in life, to never be completely comfortable? Truman ultimately chooses to risk death to get away from this fake perfect little world, for a chance to live in the real world instead.

Another comparing film with a slightly different aspect is the movie "Gattaca" directed by Andrew Niccol. This film talks about perfecting the human species itself, instead of perfecting the society we live in. It is explained through DNA trait perfection so that anyone and everyone will be the best possible person. In this instance, the futuristic minds assume that by perfecting humans themselves, it will automatically create the perfect utopian world to live in. As in all instances with the theory of utopian future, nothing ever created by humans can be perfect.

"Marxism is a wide and comprehensive doctrine derived in its socialist principles." (Xin, 205) Socialism is the overall belief of humans cooperating by sharing property and ownership of possessions. The idea was intended to have a culture where all people would join and work together and government would be there to help support. However, fears similar to the past events of communism is a thought many people share. How can such an idea of equality and cooperation turn into a government of oppression? Just like how can such a wonderful town of Omelas and its people house and torture a poor child without a thought of doubt or morality? Maybe that was the exact thoughts the "Ones Who Walked Away" had... 

Through all these science fiction tales of a perfect world corrupted, why do we still continue to seek for this so-called "perfect life?" Humanity is always trying to improve in every way. Technology, government, healthcare, literally every aspect of ones life is constantly trying to be improved. However, in reality humans are just constantly changing, and calling it improving. Is there an actual "means to an end?" Is the "end" the life in "The One Who Walk Away from Omelas?" (Le Guin) would that be the best possible outcome for us as a species? The first thought one would have is to answer "no", but think about the world we live in right now and all of its imperfections and issues. Theory tells that humanity is doomed to fail at creating the perfect society, but would attempting it be worth the risk?

A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not even worth glancing at.

--Oscar Wilde

WORKS CITED

Collins, Jerre. "Leaving Omelas: Questions of Faith and Understanding." Studies      in Short Fiction 27.4 (Fall 1990): 525-535. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed.      Joseph Palmisano. Vol. 69. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center.        Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

Enriquez, Grace. "Making Meaning of Cultural Depictions: Using Lois Lowry’s The      Giver to Reconsider What Is ‘Multicultural’ about Literature." Journal of              Children’s Literature 27.1 (2001): 13-22. Rpt. in Children's Literature                Review. Ed. Lawrence J. Trudeau. Vol. 199. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale,              2015. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

Gu Xin. "Subjectivity, modernity, and Chinese Hegelian Marxism: a study of Li        Zehou's philosophical ideas from a comparative perspective." Philosophy            East and West 46.2 (1996): 205+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Nov.      2015.

Lavoie, Dusty. "Escaping the panopticon: utopia, hegemony, and performance in      Peter Weir's The Truman Show." Utopian Studies 22.1 (2011): 52+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.