Comparing The Plague And The Myth Of Sisyphus

On November 7, 1951, the unlucky Albert Camus became the runt of an impoverished family. His mom was a meager, illiterate woman who showed little affection, while his father served in World War I and died before returning home. With his father gone and his mother emotionally absent, Camus delved deep into soccer and developed his own sense of morality. Even with his families almost nonexistent income, Camus’s skill on the field led to a scholarship to Alger’s Universities; however, it came to an end when Albert was diagnosed with tuberculosis. That could not stop the ridiculously handsome philosopher. He went on to write many literary works such as The Plague, The Rebel, and a philosophical essay named The Myth of Sisyphus. Sadly, on January

One such idea was the belief of a meaningless life and contradiction to suicide. This does put Camus under a pessimistic light, but he was a rather upbeat pessimist. He deemed life is without meaning; yet, he believed, “there is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide” (Camus Myth 1). Camus asserts life may hold no meaning, but it is not without its purpose. Rather than address the issue himself, he leaves the story of Sisyphus. The forever imprisoned Sisyphus is doomed to push a rock up a hill. Sisyphus’s act is completely meaningless, yet he roars, "Despite so many ordeals, my advanced age and the nobility of my soul make me conclude that all is well” (Camus Myth 24). Regardless of Camus’s vague opinion on the morality of suicide, he gives an excerpt of Sisyphus. At first glance, the man seems insane. After all, how can anyone continue living a life of meaninglessness. Well, it is simply by becoming the master of their fate. Although Camus would deny it, he was a Existentialist. At its core existentialism is “. . .the stress on concrete individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice” (Existentialism). Life may be meaningless. The world may be irrational. But, people are the masters of their own fate, even if it does not bare anything beyond

This came at the time the French communist party began to rise in popularity. Although it is unclear whether Camus was trying to incite a rebellion, it is clear Camus believes rebellion is necessary at times, believing, “In order to exist, man must rebel, but rebellion must respect the limit it discovers in itself—a limit where minds meet and, in meeting, begin to exist” (Camus Rebel 23). However, a man must rebel within logical reason. To rebel by a keen sense of pathos is an unjust act, it is only when a man feels he is being truly oppressed, does he come to only one conclusion; rebellion. Rebellion is an act of living. As Camus put it, “I rebel—therefore we exist” (23).

I enjoyed reading through Camus’s theories and written work, although they are extensive. Since I cannot describe all his works, I chose to analyze The Stranger. Partly due to it being shorter than most of his works, and the title is mysterious enough to garner my attention. So, without further due, I present an in-depth analysis of The