If We All Had Funny Names, Would We be Happy?

Shortly after reading Camus's essay "The Myth of Sisyphus, I read the ending chapters of his novel The Stranger. And although I admit to some bias of recency, I couldn't help but see parallels between Sisyphus and Meursault. Despite the fact that both these characters have names that I find difficult to pronounce and even harder to spell, both characters embrace existentialist thought and reject the societal systems that govern ours lives. And in the end, both characters find freedom and happiness despite their objectively desperate situations.

In Camus's interpretation of the story of Sisyphus, Sisyphus's futile struggle is not the ultimate form of torture, in fact, he is happy. By accepting his fate, accepting the absurdity and the meaninglessness of the world, Sisyphus rose above his task and became truly conscious. Camus argues that Sisyphus is able to conclude that "all is well" once he accepts his tragic fate. Similarly, Meursault is able to find happiness and open himself up to the "gentle indifference of the world" once he becomes free from the system of hope (122). Like Sisyphus, he recognizes the meaninglessness of the world and therefore peacefully accepts his imminent death.  Before this revelation and his outburst at the chaplain, Meursault was obsessed with the idea of hope, exemplified by his wish that he would be killed with a poison that was only effective nine times out of ten. However, after Meursault accepts that life only leads to death, he is able to to recognize that he "had been happy and was happy again" (123).

Overall, both Sisyphus and Meursault accepted their tragic fates and therefore were able to escape the systems surrounding them. This grand escape enabled both characters to find happiness in an authentic life.