Although the citizens of Omelas and the people of The Crucible attempt to purify society through scapegoating, their actions result in a corrupt society rather than a pure utopia. In LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas,” the citizens use the innocent child’s pain and misery to fuel the success of their own society. While the people are celebrating a luxurious celebration, the child is secluded in a dark room where “the door is always locked and nobody comes in.” The child is clearly stripped entirely of any sense of freedom as he cannot leave his suffering due to the door being locked, representing his captivity. Everyone knows about the child and they “peer in at it with frightened, disgusted eyes;” however do nothing to stop the
