In the myth, Sisyphus can be seen as a figure who never gave up despite his suffering and despair. His story is famous for the punishment inflicted by Zeus, but it also makes us reflect on the meaning of life. Today, let’s take some time to think about how we should live our lives through the myth of Sisyphus and the philosophies of Hemingway and Camus.
The Myth of Sisyphus
Sisyphus was the king of Corinth in Greek mythology. He was wise and cunning, even able to deceive the gods. Personally, I think there could be some debate about whether his cunning was truly deceitful. Anyway, he incurred the wrath of Zeus and was sent to the underworld, but he managed to deceive Hades and enjoyed a long life. Eventually, however, he was condemned to an eternal punishment of pushing a heavy rock to the top of a mountain.
Sisyphus’s punishment involved endlessly pushing a rock uphill, only to have it roll back down each time he reached the top. This was a very painful and despairing punishment, but Sisyphus did not give up, nor did he avoid his punishment. Instead, he did not give up on his life and perhaps even did his best until the end.
Hemingway and Camus’ Views on Death
Hemingway took his own life in 1961. Death is often mentioned in his works, especially in the 1925 publication “Indian Camp,” where the boundary between life and death is evident. His death shocked many people.
On the other hand, Camus approached suicide philosophically. He stated, “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide,” arguing that determining whether life is worth living is the fundamental question of philosophy. Particularly, Camus sought to find meaning in living despite the suffering, through the story of Sisyphus.
The Myth of Sisyphus and Our Lives
Sisyphus was punished to push a huge rock to the top of a mountain every day. However, he never gave up. Each time the rock rolled back down, he pushed it up again. In this painful process, Sisyphus did not despair. Rather, he gave meaning to the process itself.
Camus tells us through Sisyphus, “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” Our lives are the same. Despite the pain and difficulties, we must keep living. That is the meaning we need to find in our lives.
Finding Meaning in Life
Many people ask various philosophical questions to find the meaning of life: “Who am I?”, “Where did I come from?”, “Where am I going?” But more important than these questions is how we should live our lives.
As we live, we face numerous challenges. Sometimes we despair, and sometimes we want to give up. But like Sisyphus, we must not give up. Even though the process of pushing the rock is so hard and exhausting, we can find the meaning of life within it.
Conclusion
Living means finding meaning in the midst of pain. It is more important to seek meaning in life than to choose death. The stories of Hemingway and Camus make us rethink the reasons for living despite life’s pain. We must, like Sisyphus, keep pushing the rock. In that process, we can find true happiness and meaning.