The Myth of Happy Sisyphus

At the end of his philosophical essay ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’, Albert Camus proclaims that we should imagine Sisyphus happy. Imagine a person condemned by the Gods to the most meaningless task of all to feel pleasure and satisfaction when descending from the mountain. To see him accepting the meaninglessness of the task he will have to carry on his shoulders eternally with a smile. If we are asked to imagine Sisyphus happy, we should think of him as a print on an amphora deprived of any human thought and emotion as, otherwise, it is difficult to explain how such a vigorous and life loving man has become an obedient slave. That is why, I would like to focus on the myth. As only then, proper questions can be asked, and honourable critique made towards Camus’ choice.

It is a problematic quest. A Sisyphean one perhaps. But that’s why, it is intriguing for the mind to explore the mental state of Sisyphus when Camus’ asks us to imagine him happy. Look closely at the context and what is not spoken about in the myth. Let alone questioned. In Camus’ words, ‘Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them.’ And he certainly breathes his understanding of how to live happily in this meaningless world, using the myth of Sisyphus as an example. And yet, Sisyphus, whom the author proclaims as an absurd hero, resembles an empty shell without a glimpse of the human being we are told he once was. And this is what makes it challenging to associate yourself with Sisyphus. Much less, to imagine him happy. Only wonder if this comparison makes life a punishment as well.

From the perspective of our physical body, life is a journey from A, birth, to B, death. As far as one’s personal experience is concerned, there is nothing beyond this journey. There is no rock rolling back in the Sisyphean terms. Life is not something one has to push, although many might argue otherwise. But if you look closely, life simply happens to everyone who walks on earth. The choice of how to live or not to live is in our hands. The choice, which Sisyphus does not have in the underworld. It seems he is stripped of any choice. Perhaps, except for the action of rolling or not rolling the rock. Yet, the myth does not leave space for the latter one. Sisyphus rolls the rock, and this begs asking a question: is he aware of his actions and, more importantly, his situation? Is he aware at all? Camus says that Sisyphus is aware of his situation, especially ‘when the images of earth cling too tightly to memory, when the call of happiness becomes too insistent’. But again, this is Camus’ interpretation talking.

If Sisyphus is aware of his situation, he should also be aware of his life on earth, the tricks on the Gods, and the reason for being in the underworld. As Camus puts it, ‘he contemplates that series of unrelated actions which become his fate, created by him, combined under his memory’s eye and soon sealed by his death.’ In Camus’ eyes, Sisyphus is aware. But if that is the case, he should also be aware of the meaninglessness of the task after a few attempts. Yet, he continues rolling the rock. Why? Did the Gods had promised to bring him back to life if he managed to roll it up? That would be an incentive. A powerful one. And if there is no motivation, what is forcing him to act?

Interestingly, the punishment exists only when a person is aware of it. But in the case of Sisyphus, he is not aware of it. Otherwise, he would simply sit by the rock, defying the Gods and their punishment. Rebelling against their will and not doing what is expected of him. That’s what he did when he was alive. That’s where I can imagine Sisyphus being happy. That’s where I can imagine myself being happy. But then we are speaking about another Sisyphus. The one from the earth.

The underworld Sisyphus does not remember the past or thinks about the future. He pushes the rock without seeing this as a punishment, just another day at work. He is not aware of the Gods or of Life. Not even himself. It is extremely bewildering to see him as a human being. More a figure with the emptiness being the only certain thing inside. Divested of any thought and feeling. He is a robot, a machine forgotten by the Gods themselves. He does not feel happiness as any feeling would make him evaluate the situation. Looking at what is available and for such a clever man, the mind would not rest. And this unrest is not a minus. It is a human feature. A very important one.

We are curious creatures. Our minds are built to explore and experience. We should learn from Sisyphus the human being, not into what he has become in the underworld. Not into whom Camus has turned him to make a point. Although, the philosophy of absurd can help and has many interesting ideas, it lacks the flexibility of allowing a person to create one’s own meaning of life by simply denying it. Accepting the fact that our relationship with this world changes throughout our journey from point A and B significantly. The meaning can change as well. As we feel and think, we are not the underworld Sisyphus. Because we are curious and not willing to give up. Because we are aware.

The biggest mistake we can make is to accept the myth of happy Sisyphus as true and think that this is how life should be lived. Camus’ proclamation is his personal attributed meaning to life as is also Buddha’s or Aristotle’s. And they are all different, which leaves but with one undeniable conclusion, that we can choose and find our own way of meaning in this life. Meaningless has Meaning as Chaos has Order… That’s the beauty of it. We all have our own paths to walk. And the choice is ours.

The underworld Sisyphus exists in our minds when we submit to the idea of life being meaningless and making ourselves a victim of it. But we are not if we want to. If we do not believe in the external forces guiding our lives, then we are the creators of it. All of it. And that is liberating as Sisyphus felt liberated when living on earth. That’s why it is important not to submit to the idea of the happy underworld Sisyphus. Otherwise, already in this world, you will be rolling the rock of your victimhood.