Albert Camus's Essay: The Myth of Sisyphus

984 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Significance of philosophy in life

In the essay The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus attempts to give answers to some tough questions. He wants to know if life is worth living or how we can make it worth living, as well as whether or not it is possible to live with certainty. To him, the absurd man realizes that life is absurd after his expectations are repeatedly contradicted and he realizes the world is an unreasonable place that cannot be explained. These unreasonable expectations of certainty ultimately cause many absurd men to think that life is not worth living when they are faced with what they feel is a hopeless situation. Camus offers an alternative to the problem the absurd man faces and it is not suicide or “Philosophical suicide”. Other philosophers commit philosophical suicide by suggesting that there is enough evidence, whatever it maybe, that one should survive on hope alone or make some leap. But Camus thinks that if a person is honest and truthful to themselves that they know they are nothing more than “a stranger” in this world. So how does one live a life worth living when faced with absurdity?
A good example of what might happen to someone going through an existential crisis described by Camus happens in the short story The Wall by Jean Paul Sartre. It is a story of three men that are sentenced to be executed and their time spent leading up to it. The main character Pablo at first loses basically all desire to live because he knows that his death is imminent. I am going to attempt to try and describe what I believe Albert Camus might think of the characters from the short story The Wall. I will from the point of view of Camus and explain what Pablo and the other characters might have done differently to use their freedom to the best of their ab...

... middle of paper ...

...w us the best way to use our freedom and build a life worth living, someday.
In conclusion, I feel like Camus has the most optimistic outlook out of all the philosophers we have talked about, including Sartre, as well as the most realistic when it comes to using your freedom and making a life worth living. If the characters in The Wall were to embrace some of Camus's ideas Juan and Tom might have been able to calm down and make the most of their situation. If we want to make a life worth living we must accept the absurdity and the sooner the better. That is the only way that we can become content with our lives . It is bad deal for humans, but if we are forced to live in a meaningless world we ought to make the best out of it by maximizing our experiences because from what we can tell living is better than dying because it is something impossible to experience.

Show More
Related

  • Exploring Change in The Allegory of the Cave, and The Myth of Sisyphus

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Allegory of the Cave, and The Myth of Sisyphus, are both attempts at explaining some aspect of the way people think or why humans do as observed. Both stories illustrate the same idea:  without necessary and proper exposure to change, thinking is limited and ignorance is the direct product.

    Read More

  • How Is Richard Taylor And Camus's View On The Meaning Of Life Is Meaningless?

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, he provides an alternative more substantial solution in such a way that does not let the universe triumph. What one must do to overcome this absurdity to is to be scornful of the fact that the universe has created such an individual with the ability to contemplate on his or her own existence. Suicide is an option that takes the easy route out of this absurdity, implicating the difficulty of life is too much to handle. Camus acknowledges his conscious and revolts, or becomes scornful of that fact, and refuses the option of suicide. By choosing to embrace the absurdity of the meaningless of one’s own existence, then freedom to create your own meaning and purpose is

    Read More

  • Albert The Absurd Camus

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    MacDonald, Paul S. “Albert Camus.” The Existentialist Reader. Ed. Paul S. MacDonald. Routledge: New York, 2000. 144 – 183.

    Read More

  • Maman’s Funeral Characterises Meursault And the World of The Stranger

    1659 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the experimental novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, he explores the concept of existentialism and the idea that humans are born into nothing and descend into nothingness after death. The novel takes place in the French colony of Algiers where the French-Algerians working-class colonists live in an urban setting where simple life pleasures are of the upmost importance in the lives of working class people like the protagonist of the novel Meursault. What is fascinating about this novel is that it opens up with a scene of perpetual misfortune for him through the death of his mother although he seems to express otherwise. The reader perceives this nonchalance as a lack of care. Maman’s death and its impact on Meursault appear in both the very beginning and very end of the two-part novel, suggesting a cyclical pattern in the structure. This cyclical pattern suggests not a change in the moral beliefs of Meursault but rather his registering society’s systems and beliefs and craft meaning in his own life despite the fact that he meets his demise in the end. Camus uses Maman’s funeral to characterise both Meursault and the society and customs created by the society Meursault lives in in order to contrast the two while at the same time reveal how while society changes, Meursault does not. Rather, Maman’s funeral becomes of unprecedented importance in Meursault’s life and allows him to find that nothing means anything in his meaningless world at the time of his death. He finds peace in that.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Epic Hero Essay

    627 Words  | 2 Pages

    Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, tells the story of Odysseus’ journey to his home in Ithaca, ten years after the Trojan War. Throughout Odysseus’ journey to reach home, he proves that he is an epic hero by overcoming many extraordinary circumstances that test his loyalty, ability to resist temptation, and the power of his cunning over his strength.

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Fate in The Stranger (The Outsider) and Myth of Sisyphus

    610 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his works, The Stranger (The Outsider) and Myth of Sisyphus,  Camus addresses the consciousness of Meursault and Sisyphus through their fate.

    Read More

  • Albert Camus And Existentialism

    1276 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... evening, on leaving the office, they forgather, at an hour that never varies, in the cafes, stroll the same boulevard, or take the air on their balconies. The passions of the young are violent and short-lived; the vices of older men seldom range beyond an addiction to bowling, to banquets and "socials," or clubs where large sums change hands on the fall of a card (Camus,The Plague)." Here it shows an example of existentialism as it did in The Stranger. In both novels the main characters of interest are consumed by repetitive redundant lives; which reflects the philosophy. But this novel, The Plague, also shows possibly a reason why Camus denies existentialism. In The Plague it is expressed that man is good of at least has potential to be good.

    Read More

  • Albert Camus and his Idea of Religion

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Albert Camus was an existentialist. He was also not a religious person and even though he was born and raised a Catholic; he soon quit his religious faith and turned into an atheist, believing that religion was “philosophical suicide”. He described his attitude toward religion in the lines “I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.” Yet, it is seen that even though he denied being an existentialist, he is seen to have ‘brooded over such questions as the meaning of life in the face of death.’ “Men are convinced of your arguments, your sincerity, and the seriousness of your efforts only by your death.” This quote shows that Camus believed death was what created people in society and brought their life into the spotlight.

    Read More

  • Uncertainty In Albert Camus The Myth Of Sisyphus

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ever since civilizations began forming around 3,500 B.C (TimeMaps), there has been a gradual formation of social hierarchies. As humanity advanced, the progression of more needs was met, and the emphasis on knowledge and understanding of existence became more important. Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. The prominent question of its study is to interpret the meaning of our existence. In recent times, a philosopher named Albert Camus won the Nobel Prize for his literary essay, "The Myth of Sisyphus." In this article, Camus brought to light many theories, but the central question posed was, “Proceeding from the premise that, in light of the apparent purposelessness of life, suicide is the only truly serious philosophical problem" (Ward 80). This statement gives an explanation behind the fundamental motivation behind our existence. You can theorize that, by living in an irrational world (Uncertainty), obstacles are inevitable, but to construct our viewpoint about them gives us ultimate control of navigating it.

    Read More

  • The Unemotional Meursault in The Stranger by Albert Camus

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Albert Camus’ novel, The Stranger, the protagonist Meursault is a character who has definite values and opinions concerning the society in which he lives.  His self-inflicted alienation from society and all its habits and customs is clear throughout the book.  The novel itself is an exercise in absurdity that challenges the reader to face the nagging questions concerning the meaning of human existence. Meursault is an existentialist character who views his life in an unemotional and noncommittal manner, which enhances his obvious opinion that in the end life is utterly meaningless.

    Read More

  • Death And Suffering In Albert Camus The Plague

    1953 Words  | 4 Pages

    Albert Camus provides a unique look at humanity and the intricacies of living in an absurd world full of hopeless suffering in “The Plague.” Many facets of Camus symbolism within the book can only lead the reader to ponder “Should I kill myself?” while leaving them with the answer “No, life is worth it if I make it worth it. I can overcome suffering.” First, Camus use of parallelism to atrocities, specifically war, function to highlight that death and suffering derives from both humanity and nature. Second, to Camus, humanity needs to stare death in the face by questioning the usefulness of existence and if it is justified to live even if you are suffering. Third, to Camus, god is dead, he is just a tool for humanity to give their lives meaning.

    Read More

  • Albert Camus 'Should I Kill Myself, Or Have A Cup Of Coffee?'

    191 Words  | 1 Pages

    Albert Camus posed the question, "Should I kill myself, or have a cup of coffee?" It was in this question that my intellectual curiosity was truly awoken as a tenth grader. My fascination stemmed both from the absurdity of the question and upon further insight from the absurdist interpretation. If everything results in death what is the meaning in our daily actions? My response to this question changed twice before I came to a personal conclusion to Camus' seemingly rhetorical question. At first I conveniently believed that having a cup of coffee was the correct answer. However, after exploring absurdism I began to understand Camus' viewpoint and quickly switched to having no response, because even though I began to comprehend the 'meaninglessness'

    Read More

  • The Plague Albert Camus Symbolism

    1956 Words  | 4 Pages

    Albert Camus provides a unique look at humanity and the intricacies of living in an absurd world full of hopeless suffering in “The Plague.” Many facets of Camus symbolism within the book can only lead the reader to ponder “Should I kill myself?” while leaving them with the answer “No, life is worth it if I make it worth it. I can overcome suffering.” First, Camus use of parallelism to atrocities, specifically war, function to highlight that death and suffering derives from both humanity and nature. Second, to Camus, humanity needs to stare death in the face by questioning the usefulness of existence and if it is justified to live even if you are suffering. Third, to Camus, god is dead, he is just a tool for humanity to give their lives meaning.

    Read More

  • Absurdity: An Essay On The Stranger

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    If there is no point to living why do we continue to live? If this reality is absurd why don’t we recognize that and commit suicide? Taking one’s life shows the lack of will or reasons to live and also the needlessness of suffering. So what is living? Living is the Absurd. Living is hopelessness. Living is keeping the absurd alive. To keep the absurd alive you only have to live the absurd. 'Life will be more fully lived in so far as it has no meaning.' is a quote from Camus that shows this. Camus shows that you can “hope” for the best without hope. “Hope” is not the same as hope. “Hope” is optimism. Freedom from hope is freedom to your soul. You can no longer hurt yourself by living. It is hard to believe that being hopeless leads to living but living is an imprisonment. We try to be the best we can be but does not life limit us?

    Read More

  • Absurdism, The Stranger, and Life

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Albert Camus considers absurdity to be a fight, a force pushing between our mind’s desire to have meaning and understanding and the blank empty world beyond. In argument with Nagel, Camus stated “I said that the world is absurd, but I was too hasty. This world in itself is not reasonable, that is all that can be said. But what is absurd is the confrontation of this irrational and the wild longing for clarity whose call echoes in the human heart. The absurd depends as much on man as on the world.”[1] He continues that there are specific human experiences evoking notions of absurdity. Such a realization or encounter with the absurd leaves the individual with a choice: suicide, a leap of faith, or recognition. He concludes that recognition, or realization, is the only defensible option.[2] The realization that life is absurd and cannot be an end, but only a beginning. This is a truth nearly all great minds have taken as their starting point. It is not this discovery that is interesting, but the consequences and rules of action drawn from it.[3]

    Read More

More about Albert Camus's Essay: The Myth of Sisyphus

Open Document