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Andrew J. Griffin
Prof. Lance Callahan
English 1103
30 NOV 98
Is Sisyphus Portrayed as a Noble Character?
Albert Camus' essay, "The Myth of Sisyphus," portrays Sisyphus as a noble character, despite his being punished with an apparently futile and hopeless labor. Albert Camus recounts the actions that are responsible for Sisyphus's punishment, and offers his insight into Sisyphus's subsequent existence. In the end, Albert Camus strives to support his claim that Sisyphus is an "absurd hero" (381).
Albert Camus briefly recounts Sisyphus's life on earth in order to introduce Sisyphus's attitude toward it. Camus presents Sisyphus as both a wise and prudent man, as well as a "highwayman" (380). Sisyphus's numerous encounters with the gods are all marked by an absence of terror and a cool, cavalier attitude. Nevertheless, Sisyphus is never directly arrogant or disrespectful toward the gods. Thus, it is Sisyphus's approach to the gods that earns him his wise and prudent titles. Meanwhile, Sisyphus earns the title of highwayman by succeeding with his approach. Though each of Sisyphus's encounters with gods, he is able to better his position, selfishly. Hence, Sisyphus's journey through life is marked by carefree self-indulgence at the expense of the gods.
Ultimately, Sisyphus is held accountable for his actions, and Albert Camus begins to reveal his fascination within the myth of Sisyphus. For the gods finally lose their patience with Sisyphus and subject him to what they perceive to be a most "dreadful punishment"(380). Sisyphus is condemned "to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight"(380). Consequently, Camus relates the futile, fruitless labor of this punishment to the work of a modern day workman. For a workman works everyday of his life just to do it all again tomorrow, with no apparent hope of it ever ending. Camus notes that this is tragic if the person is aware of it. However, he also notes his belief that Sisyphus is not only aware of his position, but that he understands it.
Therefore, according to Camus, Sisyphus knows that his punishment is the result of his life's actions. Thus, in a sense, the punishment is Sisyphus's reward for living his life irrespective of the gods. Moreover, Camus quotes Oedipus, "'Despite so many ordeals, my advanced age and the nobility of my soul make me conclude that all is well'"(382) to further show that the more one knows, then the more comfortable he or she will be in life. Applying this to Sisyphus suggests that he, too, knows that "all is well"(382), despite
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