Episode Details

22 Aug 2025

Episode 6.10 - Le Guin 2: Architectures of Happiness

Is this story really about that suffering child? Or is it more about how we wall its suffering out, then invite it back in?

We also discuss how social complicity, blissful ignorance, binary breakdowns, and the pee privileges at Waywords Studio.

Our Main Text:

• Ursula K. Le Guin: “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”: https://archive.org/download/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-omelas-ursula-k-leguin/The%20Ones%20Who%20Walk%20Away%20from%20Omelas%20-%20Ursula%20K%20LeGuin.pdf

Complete Resources: https://waywordsstudio.com/project/le-guin-omelas/

CHAPTERS

00:00     The Weight of Happiness
04:16     Opening Theme
04:58     The Fictions of Happiness
15:34     The Psychology of Complicity
26:28     The “Conditions of Omelas
34:59     …And Its Virtues
39:26     So What Is Left for Us?
43:56     Closing Credits

===

New to Literary Nomads? Check out episode 5.00 to find out what we’re all about: https://waywordsstudio.com/podcasts/waywords_podcast/an-introduction-and-irony/

Transcript:  https://waywordsstudio.com/general/transcript/6-10-le-guin-part-2

Have a Question? Literary Nomads Mailbag: https://forms.gle/WKGp1YWrazNZ3TLt8 

===

Literary Nomads is the primary program of Waywords Studio (https://waywordsstudio.com). The podcast posts new material each week, with thought-provoking examinations of literature around selected questions or themes and several smaller supplemental episodes in between the larger programs: history, writing, and contemporary applications of ideas.

Visit us for expanded resources for guests and the Waywords community, for other programs and writing, and for opportunities to support our goal to expand reading. Resources available can include full bibliographies of material referenced, full and partial texts, annotated editions, supplemental and expanded episodes, fictional explorations, teaching and learning resources, additional essays, and online courses.

Website:  https://waywordsstudio.com

Newsletter: https://waywordsstudio.kit.com/

Instagram: @WaywordsStudio

Facebook: Waywords.Studio

YouTube: Waywords Studio

LinkedIn: Waywords-Studio

CREDITS:

Original music by Randon Myles (https