Albert Camus asserts that Sisyphus' punishment is that he knows that all his labor is meaningless. Camus says that if Sisyphus was under the impression that he would succeed someday, then it would not be a punishment. He attributes this to life; if Sisyphus thought that he would someday succeed then he would willingly keep struggling. This is how most people go through life. They do not let failures or setbacks get them down because they believe that they will eventually find the meaning in their lives.
Meursault is not one of these people though. He, like Sisyphus sees that there is no greater meaning in what he is doing. You would think that this would lead to a life of misery just like Sisyphus, but Camus argues that Sisyphus finds peace in his greater understanding of his situation. He is able to come to peace with the fact that his labor is ultimately fruitless, just like Meursault is able to come to peace with the fact that life has no greater meaning.
I would argue most people DO let failures and setbacks get them down. This, I think, is what primarily makes Meursault different.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be honest, I found the Myth of Sisyphus to be pretty confusing. I think it depends on whether Camus was saying that the absurdity of Sisyphus' situation gives or takes away the hope he feels.
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