In The Myth of Sisyphus, the character called Sisyphus is a fitting illustration of someone who espouses Camus’ ideas of existing within a universe that has neither purpose nor meaning. Sisyphus satisfies this idea through the choice that he makes in life. Camus explains that Sisyphus offended the deities by binding Death to eliminate the possibility of people dying. Sisyphus’ action indicates his quest to find meaning in life. The character intends to live life to the full without the threat of Death. Sisyphus is however denied this meaning when the deities finally liberate Death, meaning that people will die (Camus 150). Sisyphus thus realizes the truth of Camus’ claims – true meaning can never be attained in life. At this stage, Sisyphus has 3 choices to make. He can conclude that life is basically pointless or purposeless. On the other hand, Sisyphus can decide to seek meaning in a Higher Being – God. Sisyphus may also make the conclusion that he can live in a world where there is neither purpose nor meaning. The character takes this third route.
To expound, following the release of Death, Sisyphus is destined to die. The character however cunningly proposes a compromise scheme that will prevent him from falling under the power of Death. This alternative life will however be basically meaningless. The gods punish Sisyphus by having him spend his remaining life pushing a certain rock uphill, waiting for it to roll down, and then re-rolling it uphill. Sisyphus however derives satisfaction in this kind of existence. He faithfully undertakes his assigned task without showing any reservations. He thus fulfills Camus’ ideas that people can exist in a world where there is no purpose or meaning and yet derive satisfaction from such (Belliotti 51).
The character called Cottard in Camus’ The Plague novel has a number of important similarities with the character of Sisyphus in the author’s The Myth of Sisyphus treatise. This is in relation to the life situations that the 2 characters find themselves in and their strategies for dealing with such circumstances. To illustrate, just like Camus states in The Myth of Sisyphus treatise that it is impossible to derive the meaning that one wants in life, The Plague’s Cottard’s life is meaningless. Such lack of meaning is evident through the character’s lack of a decent job and his subsequent attempt to commit suicide. Sisyphus in The Myth of Sisyphus discourse also regards his life as meaningless, hence the decision to get rid of Death. By binding Death, Sisyphus derives meaning from life since he can live for eternity. The character’s meaning in life is however quashed when the deities free Death, thus making Sisyphus susceptible to the possibility of dying. Sisyphus devises a scheme whereby he can live a debased kind of life so as to avoid Death. He thus devises his own version of meaning and enjoys it by eternally rolling the rock uphill.
This reasoning is reflected by Cottard’s action after the depressed man attempts to find meaning in the tense situation that results from the bubonic plague epidemic. Cottard has always been anxious about being apprehended by the police for having attempted to commit suicide. His life has thus been generally meaningless since he has always evaded the police. The bubonic plague outbreak however makes everyone in Cottard’s society apprehensive. Just like Camus in The Myth of Sisyphus argues that people can manage to derive meaning from a meaningless and purposeless life, Cottard in The Plague becomes rejuvenated on seeing that everyone in the community is as apprehensive as he is (Camus 192). This character has thus effectively adapted themselves to comfortably live in a meaningless world. Consequently, Cottard is relatively more lively than most of his compatriots. To this end, he strives to make friends. Cottard even engages in illegal business with so much gusto that he manages to accumulate a lot of material wealth. These dispositions mirror the philosophy advanced by Camus in The Myth of Sisyphus discourse.
To summarize, Camus uses The Myth of Sisyphus treatise to demonstrate that life does not normally offer people the meaning they prefer.
Consequently, people may choose to conclude that life is entirely meaningless. Conversely, humanity may seek meaning in the spiritual realm. Camus however emphasizes the third choice – whereby people make compromises to satisfactorily live in a meaningless and purposeless world. Sisyphus chooses this latter route. Such philosophy is espoused by Cottard in Camus’ The Plague novel. Cottard thus finds meaning in the disorder that characterizes a bubonic plague outbreak. Consequently, Cottard becomes livelier, friendlier, and thrives financially.
Works Cited
Belliotti, Raymond A. What is The Meaning of Human Life? New York, USA: Rodopi, 2001. Print.
Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus, and Other Essays. New York, USA: Vintage Books, 1991. Print.
Camus, Albert. The Plague. London, UK: eBookEden.com, 1967. Print.