Essay on The Myth of Sisyphus - 1230 Words

The Myth of Sisyphus Sisyphus is the absurd hero. This man, sentenced to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain and then watching it roll back down, is the epitome of the absurd hero according to Camus. In retelling the Myth of Sisyphus, Camus is able to create an extremely powerful image which sums up the intellectual discussion which comes before it in the book. We are told that Sisyphus is the absurd hero as much through his passions as through his torture. His scorn of the gods, his hatred of death, and his passion for life won him that unspeakable penalty in which the whole being is exerted toward accomplishing nothing. (p.89). Sisyphus is conscious of his troubles , and†¦show more content†¦In these essays Camus looks the problem of suicide. In a shocking, unnerving manner he opens with the bold statement that: There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide. (p. 3). He goes on to discover if suicide is a real answer to the human who is unhappy with life. Or if life is worth living now that god is dead? The discussion begins and continues not as a metaphysical cobweb but as a well reasoned statement based on a way of knowing which Camus holds is the only epistemology we have at our command. We know only two things: This heart within me I can feel, and I judge that it exists. This world I can touch, and I likewise judge that it exists. There ends all my knowledge, and the rest is construction. (p. 14) With these as the basic certainties of the human condition, Camus argues that there is no meaning to life. He disapproves of the many philosophers who have played on words and pretended to believe that refusing to grant a meaning to life necessarily leads to declaring that it is not worth living. (p.7) Life has no absolute meaning. In spite of the humans irrational nostalgia for unity, for absolutes, for a definite order and meaning to the not me of the universe, no such meaning exists in the silent, indifferent universe. Between this yearning for meaning and eternal verities and the actual conditionShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Myth of Sisyphus706 Words   |  3 PagesThe Myth Of Sisyphus   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The myth of Sisyphus was a paper written by Albert Camus to show that life has no ultimate meaning. This goals of men and woman are false and in the end humans really accomplish nothing. Camus represented his idea of existentialism through the use of Sisyphus. This allows us to see a comparison of a mythical tale and the real world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Albert Camus feeling towards existence was that humans were not supposed to be living in the world. Camus believed that there wasRead MoreThe Myth Of Sisyphus And The Stranger1367 Words   |  6 Pages It is common for authors to use similar themes in their work intentionally. For Albert Camus, the author of â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus† and The Stranger, the use of similar themes seems to be intentional. The author takes a very different approach to the same topic, however. Not only is the underlying topic of existentialism the same, but the writing styles and rhetorical devices similar, as well. Through the use of similar devices and themes, the reader is able to understand, analyze, and compare andRead MoreEssay on myth of sisyphus975 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom other texts and to what effects? Introduction: Thesis: Camus has borrowed philosophical ideas from other writers which has influenced his interpretation for the existence of an individual mostly described within his works with The Myth of Sisyphus as well as his other well known novels. 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However, he does not look at Sisyphus fate asRead MoreAnalysis Of The Myth Of Sisyphus 1212 Words   |  5 PagesConnor McGlynn February 2, 2014 Eshleman Camus Essay Much of Camus writing in the Myth of Sisyphus is trying to get the reader to understand the idea of absurdity, and what can be done with it. In this essay I will attempt to determine whether the acceptance of absurdity does indeed make life better. Camus states that there are a few different ways one can deal with the absurdity of life, it could drive one to suicide, it could have someone take a â€Å"leap of faith† and hope there is meaning to lifeRead MoreThe Myth Of Sisyphus By Albert Camus1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe Myth of Sisyphus is a philosophical essay authored by Albert Camus. Originally published in French in 1942 as Le Mythe de Sisyphe, It was translated into English by Justin O’Brien in 1955. Camus in this essay introduces his concept of the â€Å"absurd†. He talks of man s futile search for meaning, unity, and clarity. He states that for man the world becomes an unintelligible space which is devoid of God, moral ethics and eternal truths. In such a situation one is forced to contemplate ‘Is suicideRead MoreThe Myth Of Sisyphus By Albert Camus1013 Words   |  5 PagesRob Campbell Mr. Foley Hon. World Lit-D Period 21 September 2017 An Existential Hero â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus† by Albert Camus is a symbolic commentary on life s inherent meaning, or more specifically, the lack thereof and how one may come to terms with their fate. For centuries, philosophers have pondered upon the idea that there is not an intrinsic meaning in the universe. One major response to such a belief is Existentialism. The system of beliefs known as Existentialism states that through a combinationRead MoreAbsurdity: The Myth of Sisyphus Essay1347 Words   |  6 Pagesabsurdity and making life worthwhile. The legend of Sisyphus and his fate is an echo of our own. Sisyphus was a very wise mortal who was condemned by the gods. They punished him to a never ending absurd task. Sisyphus was forced to roll a boulder up a mountain, and once he reached the top the boulder would roll back down. Sisyphus would then have to attempt to complete the task again meeting the same results for eternity. Readers feel sympathy toward Sisyphus because he has no control over his actions,Read More Albert Camus The Myth of Sisyphus Essays814 Words   |  4 PagesAlbert Camus The Myth of Sisyphus Albert Camus essay, The Myth Of Sisyphus is an insightful analysis of the classic work, The Myth Of Sisyphus. In some regards Camus view of Sisyphus can seem quite accurate and in tune with the original text, but based on Camus interpretation of the justness of Sisyphus punishment, it is clear that the writer has some different ideas as well. Camus concludes that this punishment does not have the effect the Gods had intended, and ultimately theRead MoreThe Myth Of Sisyphus By Albert Camus Analysis1190 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, author and philosopher Albert Camus develops the theme of existentialism through his ideas of the absurd, suicide, and hope. By addressing prominent questions such as â€Å"what does it mean to live?† and â€Å"what is my real identity?†, Camus emphasizes that the true â€Å"purpose† in life is to embrace the freedom of being able to choose how we define our lives, even if life ultimately has no mean ing. In this research paper, I wanted to further analyze Camus’ ideas,