the myth of sisyphus and other essays summary

A Summary and Analysis of the Myth of Sisyphus

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The poster-boy of existentialism, Sisyphus has become associated with laborious and pointless tasks, because he was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, only for the boulder to roll back down to the bottom just as he was about to complete the task. He was thus doomed to repeat this action forever.

However, there’s a lot more to the story of Sisyphus than this snapshot, so let’s take a closer look at the Sisyphus myth, who he was, and why he was so important to ancient Greek civilisation.

Summary of the Sisyphus myth

Although he’s best-known now for rolling a stone up a hill, Sisyphus did lots before he was doomed to repeat that (literal) uphill struggle. He was the mythical founder of the city-state of Corinth (called Ephyra at the time) and was viewed as the successor to Medea – she of the doomed relationship with Jason, of Argonauts fame.

He was also credited with founding the Isthmian games, which were held both the year before and the year after the Olympic Games (the second and fourth years of an Olympiad), from around 582 BC (nearly two centuries after the first Olympic games were held).

Sisyphus is credited with siring, among others, Glaucus, Bellerophon, and even – in one version – wily Odysseus himself. The story goes that Autolycus had stolen Sisyphus’ flock, but Sisyphus, viewed by many as the most cunning of all men, had taken the precaution of branding his name onto his animals, so he could prove the stolen flock was his.

Autolycus’ daughter Anticleia was due to marry Laertes the next day after this thwarted act of farmyard theft took place, and Sisyphus, to get his revenge, slipped into Anticleia’s bed the night before her wedding and seduced her. She conceived Odysseus as a result.

But because Autolycus was impressed by Sisyphus’ cleverness, he happily gave up his daughter to Sisyphus, because he wanted to have a wily and quick-thinking grandson. Odysseus certainly grew up to be just that, as Homer’s Odyssey attests. Laertes, in this version of the Odysseus’ story, wasn’t Odysseus’ biological father, then.

But how did Sisyphus end up being condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, for all eternity? That, too, depends on which version of the myth you read.

For instance, according to one account, Sisyphus ended up rolling that rock uphill because he snitched on Zeus during one of the god’s various acts of abduction involving young and beautiful women. When Zeus made off with Aegina, Sisyphus saw him. Aegina’s father, Asopus, found out that Sisyphus had witnessed it and he asked Sisyphus to tell him who had taken his daughter.

Sisyphus, ever the wily man, made him a deal: he’d tell Asopus who had made off with his daughter if Asopus made a spring gush onto the citadel of Corinth. Asopus agreed to this, and Sisyphus dropped Zeus right in it.

Zeus, whose short temper was as legendary as his penchant for running off with maidens, wasn’t too happy about Sisyphus dobbing him in like this, so he struck Sisyphus down with a thunderbolt. Transported to the Underworld, Sisyphus was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, for all eternity.

Homer, however, tells the story quite differently. Here, Sisyphus’ ‘crime’ was refusing to die when the gods decreed it. So, Zeus sent Thanatos, the spirit of Death, to carry the stubborn Sisyphus off to the Underworld. But Zeus had underestimated how wily Sisyphus was, and Sisyphus was waiting for Thanatos when he arrived, chained up this deathly agent, and in doing so, suspended death across all of the world. With Thanatos in captivity, nobody – including Sisyphus himself – could die.

But you cannot cheat death forever, and Sisyphus was forced, by Zeus, to unchain Thanatos so that the daily business of death could resume.

Unfortunately for Sisyphus, his name was first on the list.

But once again, Sisyphus tricked his way out of it. He hatched a plan with his wife, telling her that when they carried him off to the Underworld, she shouldn’t observe the funeral rites usually accorded a dead person. When Sisyphus arrived before Hades in the Underworld, he complained that his wife had refused to honour him when he died, and Hades agreed to let him go back and chastise his rude widow. The trick worked, and Sisyphus somehow got away with living for many more years.

When he did eventually die, the gods made sure he couldn’t trick his way out of the Underworld again, by setting him the endless task with which he is now so closely associated: rolling that massive rock forever up a hill, only to find – when he reached the top of the hill – that the rock rolled all the way back down to the bottom and he had to start all over again.

Analysis of the Sisyphus myth

Not all Greek myths have a ‘moral’ as such, but it’s clear, when we look at a fuller summary of the story (or stories) of Sisyphus, that his punishment – rolling that rock endlessly up a hill – was contrived by the gods in response to Sisyphus’ legendary craftiness and cunning. You really can be too clever for your own good: Sisyphus was.

The story of Sisyphus is so well-known in modern times thanks to Albert Camus, whose essay ‘ The Myth of Sisyphus ’ (1942) is an important text about the absurdity of modern life (although it’s often described as being ‘Existentialist’, Camus’ essay is actually closer to Absurdism).

For Camus, Sisyphus is the poster-boy for Absurdism, because he values life over death and wishes to enjoy his existence as much as possible, but is instead thwarted in his aims by being condemned to carry out a repetitive and pointless task. Such is the life of modern man: condemned to perform the same futile daily rituals every day, working without fulfilment, with no point or purpose to much of what he does.

However, for Camus – and again, this part is generally misunderstood by people who haven’t read Camus’ essay but only heard about its ‘argument’ at second hand – there is something positive in Sisyphus’ condition, or rather his approach to his rather gloomy fate. When Sisyphus sees the stone rolling back down the hill and has to march back down after it, knowing he will have to begin the same process all over again, Camus suggests that Sisyphus would come to realise the absurd truth of his plight, and treat it with appropriate scorn.

In a sense, he is ‘free’: not from having to perform the task, but from performing it unquestioningly or in the vain hope that it will end. He has liberated his own mind by confronting the absurdity of his situation, and can view it with the appropriate contempt and good humour. As the old line has it, ‘you have to laugh …’

Of course, the Greek gods were capricious, and weren’t always justified when meting out their punishments to mortals, but Sisyphus’ determination to cheat death is obviously doomed to failure, in the long run.

Indeed, the ancient Greeks knew, as every civilisation worthy of the name has known, that death is an inevitable and even desirable part of life: for people to live forever would be unbearable, a hell on earth, with no room being made for the next generation. In all the various versions of the myth of Sisyphus, he is not merely cunning (a quality we can applaud), but self-interested .

He sleeps with Laertes’ bride-to-be as revenge for Autolycus’ attempted theft of his flock, and, one suspects, because he fancied the girl himself. He dropped Zeus in it with Asopus, not because he believed it the morally right thing to do, but because there was something in it for him. And he tried to cheat death because he didn’t want to face his own end.

We might admire Sisyphus for his quick-thinking skills and his guile, but what makes him a compelling Greek ‘hero’ – if we can use that word of him – is his selfish streak that makes him flawed, and, therefore, more human to us.

About Greek mythology

The Greek myths are over two thousand years old – and perhaps, in their earliest forms, much older – and yet many stories from Greek mythology, and phrases derived from those stories, are part of our everyday speech. So we describe somebody’s weakness as their Achilles heel , or we talk about the dangers of opening up Pandora’s box . We describe a challenging undertaking as a Herculean task , and speak of somebody who enjoys great success as having the Midas touch .

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• The Myth of Sisyphus Summary

by Albert Camus

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Timothy Sexton, Maham Shuaib

The essay begins with an introduction to myths—note the plural—of Sisyphus . The ancient gods of myth found a uniquely horrific punishment for Sisyphus: pushing an enormous and heavy rock to the top of a mountain only to have it fall back to its starting point thanks to the forces of gravity upon that weight. The punishment was considered severe: futile labor forever.

The ancient poet Homer presented Sisyphus as a particularly intelligent mortal. Another tradition portrays him as a common thief lying in wait for passersby. For Camus, the two visions of the man are hardly incompatible. As for what Sisyphus is being punished for, accounts differ there as well ranging from a generally rebellious disregard for the supposed supremacy of the gods to imprisoning Death. The overriding presumption of guilt boils down to an essential lack of proper obeisance to the gods from their point of view.

It is this very lack of respect for those who punish him as well as the peculiar choice of the gods for that punishment that makes Sisyphus an absurd hero for Camus. His life was one of perpetual scorn for authority, disbelief in the concept of mortality for mortals, and utter and boundless passion for living was the real motivation behind an eternity of futility. That futile effort to push that rock to the top of the hill over and over again is described in poetic language that serves to transform what was intended to be an act of futility into an act of existential transcendence.

The point at which transcendence occurs within the ever-recurring brief moment that passes between when Sisyphus accomplishes his goal and when the rock starts rolling backward. What is often overlooked in the story of Sisyphus is that for the punishment to tear at his soul, he has to succeed in getting the rock to the top of the incline. To get it there only part way offers no chance for hope to set in. Only if he must constantly walk back down the hill to start again after being allowed to imagine for just a moment that the punishment is over does the full intensity of such futility rend the heart.

Or so the gods would have it. But, like Sisyphus, Camus has little regard for the gods.

He sees within that brief shining moment of glory something quite different. The labor of Sisyphus is compared to the daily work of the bulk of the masses of the population in the modern world. Billions of workers head to a job every single day that presents no less an absurd hope of accomplishment than rolling a rock to the top of a hill. And just as Sisyphus is condemned to never make progress, so are the billions of workers who must get up the very next day and do the same thing. Day after day after day. The purpose of the punishment lies within that moment of lucid awareness of the eternity of futility that he faces. That very lucidity is also the moment when he finally beats the gods.

Camus stretches the point by narrowing the comparison of Sisyphus from the mass of modern men to Oedipus, another tragic figure from ancient myth. The connection can only be acquired through restless experience that brings wisdom. Only with that wisdom gained from experience can one become heroic in the face of the absurd.

The absurd is also the location of happiness. The happiness that is discovered in the realm of the absurd is the emotional key that unlocks the gates to fate. When the seemingly absurd can be transformed into that which provides happiness when fate is stolen from the gods and returned to the mortals.

In that brief moment between the rock being where he pushed it and the rock rolling back to where he started is where Sisyphus finds joy in his toil. That joy results in regaining control over his fate. When Sisyphus turns back to head down the cliff to where the rock now sits waiting to be pushed again, Camus imagines him in contemplation of all the various events of his life which together have made up his fate and placed him where he is. Those events were not crafted by the gods with him placed into the narrative like a puppet. His decisions were his own and thus his destiny has always been of his own making. At last, Sisyphus has demonstrated the disobedience of the thief who thumbs his nose at the gods and the gods can do nothing about it.

And so when Sisyphus reaches his place back down at the foot of the mountain, Camus sees not a man filled with the dread of repeating the inevitably futile labor that serves as punishment. He sees a man who is happy because his punishment has led to his discovery that it is the struggle itself that has led to his contentment. And that is certainly no punishment at all.

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Study Guide for The Myth of Sisyphus

The Myth of Sisyphus study guide contains a biography of Albert Camus, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of The Myth of Sisyphus.

• About The Myth of Sisyphus
• Character List

Essays for The Myth of Sisyphus

The Myth of Sisyphus essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus.

• Placing Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus in the Philosophical Structure of Existentialism
• This One is Enough for You?: Vladimir and Estragon as Figures of the Despair of Philosophical Suicide and Denial of an Absurd Existence
• Sisyphus on Stage: The Fate of Characters from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
• Existentialism in Goethe’s Faust

Wikipedia Entries for The Myth of Sisyphus

• Introduction

"The Myth of Sisyphus" Summary

By Albert Camus

philosophy | 192 pages | Published in NaN

Estimated read time: 5 min read

One Sentence Summary

"The Myth of Sisyphus" explores the philosophical idea of the absurd and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.

Table of Contents

Introduction, brief synopsis, main characters, summary of different story points over chapters, main events, themes and insights, reader's takeaway.

"The Myth of Sisyphus" is a philosophical essay written by Albert Camus. Published in 1942, the book delves into the concept of the absurd and the philosophical question of suicide. Camus explores the idea that life is inherently devoid of meaning and the search for significance is ultimately futile. Through the myth of Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology, Camus presents his ideas on the human condition and the pursuit of meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.

Plot Overview

The essay begins with an exploration of the absurd, a concept that refers to the disconnect between humanity's search for meaning and the indifferent universe. Camus argues that the human desire for significance and rational understanding clashes with the inherent lack of meaning in the universe, leading to a state of absurdity. He uses the figure of Sisyphus, a character from Greek mythology, as a metaphor for the human condition.

The setting of the essay is not tied to a specific physical location or time period. Instead, it delves into the existential and philosophical realm, addressing universal themes that transcend specific settings.

Chapter 1: An Absurd Reasoning

Camus introduces the concept of the absurd, describing the clash between the human desire for meaning and the indifferent universe. He poses the question of whether life is worth living in the face of this absurdity.

Chapter 2: The Absurd Man

The essay explores the perspective of the absurd man, who fully embraces the lack of inherent meaning in the universe. Camus discusses the idea of revolt in the face of the absurd, emphasizing the importance of living authentically despite the lack of ultimate meaning.

Chapter 3: Absurd Creation

Camus delves into the concept of artistic creation in the context of the absurd. He explores how artists and creators grapple with the tension between their desire to imbue their work with meaning and the inherent lack of ultimate significance.

Chapter 4: The Myth of Sisyphus

The final chapter focuses on the myth of Sisyphus, drawing parallels between Sisyphus' eternal task of rolling a boulder uphill only to have it roll back down and the human condition. Camus presents Sisyphus as the epitome of the absurd hero, finding meaning and purpose within the act of defiance itself.

• Introduction of the concept of the absurd and its conflict with the human desire for meaning.
• Exploration of the perspective of the absurd man and the importance of revolt in the face of the absurd.
• Examination of artistic creation in the context of the absurd.
• Analogy between the myth of Sisyphus and the human condition, presenting Sisyphus as the absurd hero.
• The Absurd: The central theme of the essay revolves around the concept of the absurd, highlighting the inherent clash between human desire for meaning and the indifference of the universe.
• Revolt: Camus explores the idea of revolt as a response to the absurd, emphasizing the importance of living authentically in the face of meaninglessness.
• Existentialism: The essay delves into existentialist themes, addressing the human quest for significance and the confrontation with the absurdity of existence.
• The pursuit of meaning in an indifferent universe leads to a state of absurdity, challenging individuals to confront the lack of inherent significance.
• Embracing the absurd and living authentically in defiance of meaninglessness is a form of rebellion against the existential void.
• The myth of Sisyphus serves as a powerful metaphor for the human condition, illustrating the struggle to find purpose in a seemingly futile existence.

"The Myth of Sisyphus" offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition and the pursuit of meaning in an indifferent universe. Through Camus' philosophical insights, readers are challenged to confront the absurdity of existence and contemplate the significance of living authentically in the face of meaninglessness. The essay provides a compelling reflection on the complexities of human experience and the existential dilemmas that arise from the clash between human aspirations and the indifferent cosmos.

Albert Camus' "The Myth of Sisyphus" presents a profound philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence, the absurdity of life, and the pursuit of meaning. By drawing on the myth of Sisyphus and existentialist themes, Camus offers readers a compelling exploration of the human condition and the challenges of finding significance in a seemingly indifferent universe. The essay invites readers to grapple with profound questions about the nature of existence, the search for meaning, and the significance of living authentically in the face of absurdity.

The Myth of Sisyphus FAQ

What is 'the myth of sisyphus' about.

The book explores the concept of the absurd and the philosophical question of suicide. It delves into the existentialist themes of human existence and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.

Who is the author of 'The Myth of Sisyphus'?

The book was written by Albert Camus, a French philosopher, author, and journalist known for his contributions to existentialist philosophy and literature.

Is 'The Myth of Sisyphus' a novel or an essay?

The book is an essay, in which Camus explores his philosophical ideas through a series of reflections and arguments.

What is the significance of the title 'The Myth of Sisyphus'?

The title refers to the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus, who was condemned by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down, for eternity. This myth serves as a metaphor for the human condition and the struggle for meaning in life.

Is 'The Myth of Sisyphus' a challenging read?

The book can be intellectually challenging due to its philosophical nature. It requires thoughtful reflection and engagement with existentialist ideas, but it is also rewarding for those interested in existentialist philosophy.

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Albert camus, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

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• The Myth of Sisyphus Summary of Albert Camus's Book

The Myth of Sisyphus: A Philosophical Masterpiece by Albert Camus

Detailed summary, click here to purchase the myth of sisyphus and delve into the profound philosophy of albert camus..

The Myth of Sisyphus, written by the renowned French philosopher Albert Camus, is a groundbreaking philosophical essay that challenges our understanding of existence and meaning. First published on January 1, 1942, this powerful work questions the very essence of life in a world without religious beliefs. Drawing inspiration from the Greek myth of Sisyphus, a man condemned to eternally push a rock up a mountain only for it to roll back down, Camus explores the fundamental question: is life worth living in a world devoid of inherent purpose?

The central figure in The Myth of Sisyphus is, of course, Sisyphus himself. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a cunning king who was condemned by the gods to perform an endless and futile task as punishment for his deceitful actions. Camus uses Sisyphus as a metaphor for the human condition, portraying him as a symbol of the absurd struggle that defines our existence. Through his analysis of Sisyphus, Camus delves into the complexities of human consciousness and the relentless pursuit of meaning in a world that offers none.

The Myth of Sisyphus begins with Camus declaring that the only truly serious philosophical problem is the question of suicide. He argues that the fundamental absurdity of life drives individuals to consider ending their existence as a way to escape the inherent meaninglessness of the world. However, Camus rejects this response, proposing instead that one must embrace the absurdity of life and find value in the act of defiance against the indifferent universe.

Camus explores the concept of the absurd through the lens of Sisyphus's eternal punishment. Despite his seemingly hopeless task, Sisyphus finds contentment in his struggle. By fully accepting the futility of his efforts and confronting the absurdity of his situation, Sisyphus is able to find meaning in his own defiance. In doing so, he transcends his punishment and finds freedom in his rebellion against a universe devoid of inherent meaning.

Camus goes on to discuss the implications of the absurd for human existence. He argues that the realization of life's inherent meaninglessness is not cause for despair, but rather an opportunity for freedom and creativity. By embracing the absurd, individuals are liberated from the constraints of societal expectations and religious dogma, allowing them to forge their own path and create their own values in a world without predetermined meaning.

The Myth of Sisyphus is a profound meditation on the nature of existence and the human struggle for meaning. Camus's philosophy of the absurd challenges traditional notions of purpose and morality, inviting readers to confront the existential void at the core of their being. By rejecting the comforts of religious faith and embracing the uncertainty of the absurd, Camus offers a radical vision of freedom and autonomy that empowers individuals to find fulfillment in the face of life's inherent meaninglessness.

Camus's insights into the human condition have had a lasting impact on the fields of philosophy, literature, and psychology. His exploration of the absurd has resonated with generations of readers who grapple with the challenges of modern life and seek to find meaning in a world that often seems indifferent to their struggles. The Myth of Sisyphus stands as a testament to the power of human agency in the face of existential uncertainty, urging us to embrace the absurdity of our existence and find value in the act of living itself.

To conclude, The Myth of Sisyphus is a thought-provoking and illuminating work that continues to inspire readers to question their beliefs and confront the complexities of the human experience. If you are intrigued by the themes of existentialism, absurdism, and the search for meaning in a world devoid of inherent purpose, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Albert Camus's masterpiece.

9780141182001 (ISBN10: 0141182008)

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The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays Summary & Study Guide

The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays Summary & Study Guide Description

The Myth of Sisyphus is a collection of essays written over the course of about twenty years that revolve around the subjects of freedom from ideology and meaning and living life to the fullest degree. The title essay, which makes up the majority of the collection, investigates these concepts in an abstract, philosophical manner, while the rest of the essays are illustrations of the principles contained in the first.

The first question in philosophy is whether or not one ought to kill himself. It is more important than any other question since it deals with an issue that is obviously more important than any other: the meaning of life. It is implicitly assumed that if there is no meaning to life, then one might as well commit suicide. Others try to escape the meaninglessness of life through religious hope. In any case, it seems that everyone who comes to the conclusion that the world is absurd—that is, that the world cannot be understood with human reason—does everything they can to try to escape that conclusion, as can be seen in the philosophies of Kierkegaard and Chestov and in the literary works of Dostoevsky and Kafka.

However, acknowledging the absurdity of the world does not entail suicide, nor is it necessary to try to escape it. In order to be philosophically honest, one must stick to the principles which served as the foundation for one's inquiry, and since the first and most obvious fact is that the world is absurd, that fact must never be abandoned. This means one must live a life which constantly revolts against the natural impulses to understand the world or to find meaning in it or a future world. Rather, life, absurd as it is, must be lived as it is in the present. This implies that the absurd man has a greater freedom than any other, because he is not bound by any religion or meaning in his life; he is free to do what he pleases, while others are slaves to their beliefs. The absurd man values above all else experience, and wants to experience as much as possible, so long as he remains conscious, in that experience, of the absurdity of existence, for in this way he perpetuates his revolt. Suicide, then, is ruled out, since death is the end of experience and therefore of his freedom.

The absurd man takes great joy in creation—as it is an extension and reliving of experience—and thus it is entirely possible to be an absurd artist. Unlike other artists, however, the absurd artist does not find meaning in his work, nor does he attempt to give it meaning. Rather, art for the absurd man is best when it simply portrays the absurdity of the world as it is. This also helps the artist remain conscious of that absurdity.

"The Summer in Algiers" and "The Minotaur" both provide illustrations of cities which, unconsciously, live according to this creed of absurdity. In both cases, the citizens do not enslave themselves to any conception of eternity or hope, but rather simply live for the present and the joys which it provides.

"Helen's Exile" is a commentary on the poor state of European society which has lost sight of beauty, in contrast to ancient Greek society which was able to always keep it in mind.

"Return to Tipasa" is an account of Camus' return to his hometown of Tipasa in which he rediscovers the natural innocence of his youth which was lost when he went to war. This innocence is characterized as a lack of any kind of moral system or philosophy, to which Camus believes Europe is now enslaved.

"The Artist and His Time" is an interview of Camus in which he describes the role of the artist as combining the purity of artistic creation with the need to inspire social and political changes.

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The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays

Albert camus , justin o'brien  ( translator ).

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

Albert Camus

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The Myth of Sisyphus

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Why does Camus consider life absurd? What are the two poles of absurdity, and how does the absurd arise between them?

In Camus’s philosophy, suicide is an acceptable response to life’s absurdity, but he believes there’s a better way. What is this alternative, and why is it better?

What is “philosophical suicide ,” and what does Camus recommend instead?

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