The Myth of Sisyphus is a philosophical essay by Albert Camus. It comprises about 120 pages and was published originally in 1942 in French as Le Mythe de Sisyphe; the English translation by Justin O'Brien followed in 1955. In the essay, Camus introduces his philosophy of the absurd: man's futile search for meaning, unity and clarity in the face of an unintelligible world devoid of God and eternal truths or values. The essay is dedicated to Pascal Pia and is organized in four chapters and one appendix.
In the last chapter, Camus outlines the legend of Sisyphus who defied the gods and put Death in chains so that no human needed to die. When Death was eventually liberated and it came time for Sisyphus himself to die, he concocted a deceit which let him escape from the underworld. Finally captured, the gods decided on his punishment: for all eternity, he would have to push a rock up a mountain; on the top, the rock rolls down again and Sisyphus has to start over. Camus sees Sisyphus as the absurd hero who lives life to the fullest, hates death and is condemned to a meaningless task.
I think a lot of people with mental illness are like this... we trap ourselves into our own hell by forcing ourselves to push a rock up a mountain day after day only to have it roll back down again and again and then we are forced to start over. Until we find our purpose in life, we choose to live like Sisyphus. Until we admit we have a problem and decide to make a change – like seek professional help through a therapist, psychiatrist or pastor – the end result will stay the same.
*The Myth of Sisyphus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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