How Does Albert Camus Use The Choice In The Myth Of Sisyphus

One crude fact of life is that hardships and misfortunes are inevitable. Despite our best efforts, as humans, we cannot cease to exist and not encounter a myriad of challenges and obstacles throughout our lifetime. There may be little control over the atrocities life throws at us, but we do have control over our reactions to these cruel acts of fate. We always have a choice: we can either wallow in our misery or find the silver lining and have a positive outlook over the situation. This choice is constantly being made and is presented to each and every person every single day. Due to the boundless relatability of misfortunes, control over reactions and attitudes are commonly referenced. Camus references this choice in The Myth of Sisyphus, as he observes Sisyphus’ reflection as he wanders back down the mountain to face his adversary yet

Sisyphus was cursed by the Gods to an eternity of hopeless labor, as he was forced to push an immense boulder up a steep hill only to watch it turn and roll back down the hill and start again. Albert Camus, a renown philosopher, analyzed this myth in his work, The Myth of Sisyphus, and specifically deciphered Sisyphus’ thoughts during his trek back down the mountain. Here is where Camus decides that Sisyphus’ “fate belongs to him” (p.8). While the Gods destined Sisyphus to the cruel fate of endless labor, Camus argues that during his hike back to the rock, Sisyphus’ fate is truly in his own hands as he is presented with the never ending choice of his own attitude. There is one thing Sisyphus can control through his curse: his reaction to the curse. One can wallow in their sorrows and throw themselves a pity party, or they can accept that there is no changing their fate, and move on. According to Camus, this is the moral of Sisyphus’ cursed life, and the lesson carries over into everyday life even thousands of years