<aside> ⚠️ Trigger warning: this discusses suicide
</aside>
The Myth of Sisyphus presents Camus' philosophy of Absurdism, which is so pervasive in his other works. It took a while before I could appreciate what Camus meant by Absurd – it is the fundamental contradiction of our search for meaning in a profoundly indifferent universe.
Suicide is a possible solution for this – as Camus says, it is the "one truly serious philosophical problem". Yet Camus rejects suicide. Rather, the absurdist individual recognises the immense value of continuing on in spite of the meaninglessness of life ("one must imagine Sisyphus happy") and perhaps even drawing meaning from the struggle.
Although the essay isn't terribly long, it is by no means easy to get through. Camus’ rich verbiage combined with his thoughtful arguments (and erudite references to works of other philosophers and authors) makes this a difficult and sombre read. But putting in the effort has deepened my appreciation of his other works, especially The Stranger, which I think is the perfect fictional companion to The Myth.
"The absurd man thus catches sight of a burning and frigid, transparent and limited universe in which nothing is possible but everything is given, and beyond which all is collapse and nothingness. He can then decide to accept such a universe and draw from it his strength, his refusal to hope, and the unyielding evidence of a life without consolation”
Or, in the immortal lyrics of Monty Python from The Life of Brian:
"Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it. Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true. You'll see it's all a show, keep 'em laughing as you go. Just remember that the last laugh is on you!"