Summary

The story begins with a description of the Festival of Summer in the city of Omelas. Omelas is a city by the sea and the bright blue skies, sparkling waters, and colorful boats create a beautiful picture. The entire population of Omelas joins together in various processionals through the city. Boys and girls in the Green Fields exercise their horses in preparation for the festival race. Bells clang and people sing and dance so that the city becomes a place of music and celebration.

In the second paragraph, the narrator says that the people of Omelas are not simple. Their lives are complicated. They do not live in an idyllic fairytale of perfect happiness as suggested by the description. The city is peaceful and without the unnecessary aspects of modern life that make life so loud and hectic. The people of Omelas have exactly what...