What are your thoughts on the myth of Sisyphus and his punishment? You may approach this question in any ONE of several ways:
1. Comment on Camus's interpretation in his "The Myth of Sisyphus."
2. Provide your own metaphorical reading of Sisyphus's punishment.
3. Discuss another punishment in the Greek underworld.
(Please choose only ONE of the above.)
21 comments:
The Myth of Sisyphus proposes the idea that "the passions of this earth" result in a cruel death of the heart. Camus likens features of Sisyphus' being to stone, hinting that Sis is internally dead. It seems that Sis' body continues to toil as a mere slave to reality. The author states that Sis' rock rolling is ultimately "accomplishing nothing." I disagree on this point. Sis' accomplishments are of a mental nature, rather than of a physical one. In between the endless trials of pushing the rock, Sis "contemplates that series of unrelated actions which becomes his fate, created by him...and soon sealed by his death." His thinking marks the sinister acceptance of the life which he has, to an extent, carved for himself, as well as the recognition of death's inevitability. Seeing as numerous people struggle to come to terms with these concepts, Sis has indeed achieved something significant.
The Myth of Sisyphus is very similar to the story of Prometheus. Prometheus, like Sisyphus out witted the gods, Zeus was included in both stories as well, and both recieved a punishment for eternity. Sisyphus as we know must push a boulder up a hill and do it over and over and over again forever. Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the mortals, was chained to a boulder and everyday an eagle would come by and eat his liver, and his liver would grow back the next day so the eagle can do this again. Both men were punished forever. And both have no light at the end of the tunnel
My personal thoughts of these situations are: it must suck to be them. Unfortunately for them they cannot kill themselves. To do the same task over and over again forever would become unbareable. It would cause insanity for these men. To be unable to die, and to do a task that is excruciating over and over again would become very demoralizing. It would also make your life meaningless. No matter how you tried to look at it. You would really be serving no purpose because you cannot make a difference. Both men would get what I would like to call the "Tuck Everlasting" syndrome. And that is they would come to a point in their lives where they would whole heartily accept death and embrace it. They would hope for it rather than fear it. They would be eager to die and would be anxcious to die. Because they would realize that they really are not living a "life" unless they could die, and at that point for them, immortality would be something they never wanted in a million years.
(Tuck Everlasting is a story about a family and a horse that drank from the fountain of youth. They couldn't die and lived forever. Nobody could find the fountain and they tried to keep low key lives so that they would not attract attention to themselves. But the fact that they could not die did irritate them and they came to a point where they accepted death but can't have it.) That was a very brief, ugly summerization of a text.
Many of the punishments in Greek mythology and the Greek underworld have something to do with eternal pain or meaninglessness. A similar myth to Sisyphus is the myth of Tantalos. In this myth Tantalos invites the gods and goddesses to a dinner at his home. He realizes that he has nothing to serve to them. As a result, he takes his son, Pelops, and chops him up, cooks him, and serves him to the gods. The guests are disgusted and they banish Tantalos to the underworld. As a punishment, Tantalos is cursed to sit under a tree with tempting fruit hanging above. There is also a pool of water that is near him as well. The gods make him suffer from eternal thirst and hunger and whenever he reaches for the fruit or water it moves just barely out of his grasps.
This is a similar punishment because it is eternal meaninglessness and eternal suffering. Also, his name may be Tantalos to signify Tantalizing. the fruit and water is tantalizing him, just keeping out of his reach.
I could not even image doing such a tedious task day in and day out. I understand what they are saying about how it is worse when you are conscious. When I am at work, or even school and I am focusing on the task at hand I never really see the time go by. It is when I have idol time and I am twiddling my thumbs that I get bored out of my mind and time doesn't pass. The day seems to be wasted. I once heard from a quote, I forget who, that going in sane is doing the same thing over and over again and looking for a different result. This is what seems to be happening to Sisyphus. Nothing will ever change. One other thing that I will always remember in an Underworld story is when the guy sees Hades to get his wife back. They'll take him to the real world, but he can never look behind his shoulders. He almost makes it, but worrying himself to death about whether she was really following him forces him to look behind him. I think this goes to show how hard trust is, people like to have their future placed in their own hands. Sisyphus has absolutely nothing to to work towards, so at least there is no major let down, it can't be considered very tragic because in his current state he has nowhere to fall from.
I would say I wholly agree with Sebby's point--doing the same task over and over would not only be draining physically but would slowly drive one to insanity. What I would like to know is: Once the rock rolls down the mountain, does Sisyphus have some godly force on him to walk all the way down, or can he go at his leisure, take rests, etc.? I know that sounds silly but it'd be a way to cope with having to roll that darned rock all the way back up. Maybe he enjoys skipping or rolling down the mountain. That's probably what I would do. Anyway, I also agree with Camus' interpretation to an extent. In a case like this, ignorance is definitely bliss, although if Sisyphus is as intelligent as Camus describes he must have some idea that he's being forced to roll his rock for evermore. (or is it forever more...Or forevermore??) I think the gods are like dictators if they're taking someone like Sisyphus and punishing him as they are. Of course they're angry, but it's not his "impudence" it's the fact that he has outsmarted them and death several times. Like Sebby, the first punishment that came to mind was Prometheus' because he too was being punished for outsmarting the gods and bringing light to the human race. I think Sisyphus probably finds ways to cope with his punishment; it's not like he's chained to a rock or being eaten alive or anything. I would totally go for rolling down the mountain after the rock, but the gods would probably see THAT as impudence too.
I was wondering exactly what Amanda was wondering, does Sisyphus "have to" roll the rock up the mountain? Personally, I would probably sit and do nothing, perhaps contemplating for eternity. That would probably be the reason that Sisyphus even bothers rolling the rock: if he is unoccupied, then his mind can wander and torment him with all the "what ifs" or the life he left behind. If he does, however, engage in rolling the rock continuously, he is able to focus on the task at hand, and not the reality of his situation. When he rolls the rock he becomes the condor from that midterm reading we had: just as the condor forgets about the rope binding him when he takes his futile flight, Sisyphus forgets that everything about his existance is meaninglessness. That would be the reason why Sisyohus rolls the rock. If the gods were watching him, then he would have some sort of motivation, to escape thier punishment should he decide to sit idly, for example. His existance would therfore not be completely meaningless if gods care to watch him all the time. True meaninglessness would only be there if he were left alone and ingnored, which is probably the fate that was given to him.
I really don't understand how Camus can say that the task of ceaslessly rolling a rock up a hill only to have it fall before the top is a task that can sometimes be done with joy. Obviously, I have never experienced this, but that has to be one of the most tragic fates. The task is not as gruesome, but the lonliness is. Beyond having to perform the task for all eternity, Sisyphus is also alone for all eternity. I cannot imagine my eternal companion being a rock, but Camus says that the rock is "his rock" and that "Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself forms awrold." That is the most depressing world. Even in literature the goal of most people is to form relationships with other people, not inanimate objects. Frankenstein's monster didn't kill so that he could get a pebble to spend his life with, he wanted another monster. Camus saying that Sisyphus could possibly be happy living a tedious fate with only a rock is absurd, and not in the way that absurdity breeds happiness. Sisyphus had a tragic fate with no way of escape. I highly doubt he is happy.
Another punishment in the Greek underworld was the punishment of Ixion. In the story of Ixion, he wanted to marry a woman whose bride price was too much and he did not like it. So in order to get her he lures her parents to a room that is filled with live embers and the parents burn to death. After Ixion marries the girl, the Gods wish to kill Ixion but Zeus takes pitty on him and invites him to dinner. At dinner,Ixion decides to seduce Hera and Zeus becomes very angry. He created a Hera cloud and tricks Ixion. Ixion was then banished from Olympus. His punishment was to be bound to a flaming wheel that spins endlessly in the underworld.
When discussing the story of Ixion it is clearly obvious that Ixion had his chance to redeem himself and he let that go. His punishment was entirely his own fault. He was given a second chance after Zeus took pitty on him but ruined it. He disrespected Zeus and Hera and had to suffer for that. He was to spend eternity spinning because of his own acts.
In Greek mythology Lycurgus, King of the Edoni in Thrace went insane from imprisioning followers of Dionysus who fled but sent a drought to Thrace. He mistook his son for an ivy trunk, and began ‘pruning’ him, chopping off his ears, arms, legs, etc... Dionysus did not physically punish Lycurgus himself; he left that up to the people of Thrace, by refusing to lift the drought until Lycurgus received his just punishment. Lycurgus’s people turned against him, sending a herd of wild horses to dismember him.
In the Iliad, another version of this story is portrayed. Lycurgus did not ‘prune’ his son Drayas. Drayas was actually his father. As punishment for his disrespect to the gods, Zeus blinded him and shortly after being blinded, he died.
Another punishment in the Greek underworld was the punishment of the Danaides. They were the 50 daughters of Danaus. Danaus' brother, Adgyptus, decided that his fifty sons would marry Danaus' fifty daughters. However Danaus didn't like this idea very much so he told his daughters to kill their husbands on their wedding night. All of the Danaids do so except for one who fell in love with her husband and couldn't bear to kill him. The rest of the Danaids were punished by being forced to carry water to a bathtub that would never fill for the rest of eternity in order to cleanse their sins.
I liked Camus's interpretation of "The Myth of Sisyphus" because it gave Sisyphus' story some kind of closure. Although he is stuck, for eternity, pushing a heavy boulder up a mountain over and over again, its better to think as Camus; "One must consider Sisyphus happy." It's a much better view that thinking that Sisyphus is mentally tormented and physically tortured by pushing that boulder up the mountain. I personally couldn't imagine being in Sisyphus' position, but I do prefer to consider him happy. Because everything else is removed from his life, he has only his work to think about. His happiness can be explained as the satisfaction of doing his job over and over again, and having the goal of getting the rock up the mountain to look towards. His happiness is elementary and basic in a way, but it works. Camus' interpretation, overall, is unusual, but well explained and valid.
Another punishment of the Greek Underworld was the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. They were going to be married, but Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died. So, Orpheus went to the Underworld, got past Cerberus with his musical talent, and met with Hades and Persephone to plead his case in having her back. They said that if he could walk back to the real world where the "light" was, without looking back to check if she was there, he could have her. If not, she would be gone from his grasp forever. Orpheus played the lyre, but when he was almost at the "light," he was too tempted, and looked back. Eurydice was still there, but disappeared right after. As punishment for looking back and not resisting the temptation, Orpheus never saw Eurydice again.
Camus's interpretation of the Myth of Sisyphus appeals to me as logical, but stretched argument. In accordance with his absurdist views, Camus draws a direct parallel between the condemned Sisyphus and middle-class factory worker. Both lead "meaningless" lives, in which the worker day after day tediously slaves away at a futile job in the factory and Sisyphus repeatedly pushes a boulder uphill. This task is undoubtedly symbolic of the "uphill battle" that humanity fights universally to find purpose and meaning for their lives. Camus insists that live can not have any meaning and that mankind must thus come to "acceptance" for their existence. This argument is very viable for both the factory worker and Sisyphus because in fact it does appear that both accept their fate which has destined them to a meaningless existence and occupation. However, in my mind Camus stretches out his argument too far when he claims that such utter acceptance makes Sisyphus happy. Does acceptance exactly imply happiness? I don't think so. Many a man have lived accepting something very reluctantly. So I think it's absurd, (no pun intended) to label Sisyphus and the factory worker necessarily content with their acceptance of their meaningless life and lack of control of fate.
I agree with Mike. Camus' view in the end of Sisyphus is completely ridiculous. Someone who is doing the same thing over and over again can never truly be happy. For that second that he has finished his task he feels a ping of happiness. But once that moment crashes and he realizes the long walk in front of him to do the same thing over and over again, there is no such thing as happiness. there is only the feeling of accomplishment. that is the difference between this myth and real life. A factory worker alwasy has the change to get beyond that moment of succeeding. We are watching something in history about Camden, New Jersey. These kids live in the poorest city in the cuntry with nothing, and yet they still ahve dreams. They believe it is possible to overcome the odds. There is always a chance of good fortune in the world, even if you may not believe in God or luck or yourself. There is always a chance. Yet there is NEVER a chance when you are ruled by a demon. You will never get lucky becasue you are already dead.
This is a very interesting passage. My own take on the Myth of Sisyphus was that the reality of Sisyphus has shurk to the of the rock. Even though he can look back on his past, and can see things such as how he came to existence and where he is right now, it is the rock that represents his fate and destiny.
In the passage it states that "All Sisyphus' silent joy is contained therein," and "His fate belongs to him." It is clear that Sisyphus could not have predicted that his past actions wpould lead him to this eternal struggle. Therefore, i don't believe that the author meant for him to be happy with it. Instead I think he was showing that because of his bad choices. His words has narrowed down to the rock.
I found the punishment of Tantalos, another figure of Greek mythology to be quite similar to Sisyphus's eternal punishment.
Tantalos' story begins with him inviting the Gods over for a meal at his house. When he discovers that he has no food fit for the Gods, he decides to sacrifice his own son and serve him for dinner. The Gods are horrified and kill Tantalos. His eternal punishment puts him in a pool with an undying thirst and hunger. However, whenever he reaches for the fruit tree that hangs over head, it swings just out of reach, and when he bends to drink the water, it flows away.
Both Sisyphus and Tantalos are doomed to eternal frustration. Neither can acheive their goal; Sisyphus can't keep the boulder up on the hill and Tantalos can't reach for food or water.
Through my three years of taking latin, I have read many stories of horrible punishments from the greek gods. there are men like Nick and Sebby mentioned, who are starved, and tortured. And honestly I do believe that compared to being starved, and having your liver eaten out everyday, Sisyphus sort of got off easy from the gods. yes he must roll a bolder up a hill over and over again, but he doesnt not have to deal with as much agony as other characters have.
I think that the myth of Sisyphus shed light on many aspects of our daily lives. It sort of satirizes/points out the cyclic nature of our existence. Everyday, the sun rises and sets. The moon orbits around the earth, and then repeats. There are countless examples...the "cycle of life", our biological rhythms, the seasons, and (in mythology/faith) ideas like reincarnation... I think that the myth brings the idea that the cyclic nature of human existence is inevitable...whether Sisyphus was given that punishment or not, he still would have been in a "worthless cycle"...everyone, i guess, is under that punishment.
I see where Kristen is coming from saying that he is really only feeling accomplishment, not happiness because he is eternally punished to push this rock, its not of his own accord that he's pushing it BUT, I disagree.
I can see what she and Mike are getting at, but I feel differently.
I know that Sisyphus is in fact cognizant of the fact that he's being sent down to hill to mundanely begin his onerous task once again, but I think he FINDS happiness.
The thing I recognized about people from reading this and getting into The Stranger is that people don't innately want to be upset, depressed and unhappy. People enjoy to secrete those endorphins. We revel in our own happiness and seek it out in daily life. I think that yes, you can argue, Sisyphus is doing this in the underworld, thus making him dead, so who cares whether he's seeking happiness in life- BUT I'm going to say that I feel that he, in the knowledge that this task has been set for him to do FOREVER, he will and has found something pleasurable about it. I think that Sisyphus not only feels accomplishment, but gratification when he gets that boulder up the hill. It is a sad cycle that he partakes in, but everytime he reaches the top he has a little moment, a glimmer of happiness where he can spite the Gods and feel empowered that he bravely, with dexterity and strength, completed his task and dutifully will go begin again. The Gods never specified what would happen if he stopped- what they would do to him then. BY continuing his punishment and obeying the Gods he also proves to them how strong his sense of self is. He has a humble pride, that he can be proud (ha) of, by never ceasing to roll that boulder up the hill and that's where is seemingly unrealistic happiness stems from.
Did that sort of make sense?
I completely agree with the Camus interpretation of the Myth of Sisyphus. It is unimportant as to why Sisyphus is forced to roll that rock up the mountain. The monotony of his situation reflects the monotony in everyday life. We wake, we got to school/work, we eat, we sleep... until we die. Camus would interpret this as meaningless, due to his lack of faith in a higher power, of which I agree with (and I admit many won't). But Camus notes that we must create our own meaning in life. I feel that he is talking about personal conquest, but for me this means human connection. The meaning that we find in life is through connection to other human beings. It does not matter whether or not there is a higher power if we can live this life and make human connections because that is meaning enough.
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