Sisyphus, 1548-49, Oil on Canvas, Titian
A vast majority of people in today's society have heard the story of Sisyphus or a displacement resembling the original tale. Out of the people that have experienced this saturnine tale, I believe that many of them would agree with me when I say that Sisyphus's plight appears quite tragic on the surface. A man who is doomed to push a large boulder up a steep mountain side, only to have it plummet down the other side once he reaches the summit hardly shows any potential to make one feel cheery. While I do concur that this myth is quite disheartening on the surface, I think that there is a small amount of beauty to be found as well.
Personally, I envy Sisyphus. Now, before you write me off as crazy, hear me out. I do not envy Sisyphus's circumstances in any way, but I do envy his resolve. Even though he is on a forced charge to repeat an impossible mission, he has more determination than I have experienced in my lifetime. Despite the fact that the slope is steep and his load is heavy, Sisyphus still pushed that rock up, knowing full well that it would fall down the other side immediately. I think that there is a lesson to be learned in this myth. I see a metaphor about being persistent in the face of supposedly immanent failure. I can only hope that someday I can learn to have the same amount of bravery and determination depicted in this fable.
Oh, but to have the passion of
Sisyphus... To be contemptuous
of Hope...
To look forward to the endless
struggle... To rail against that
heartless slope...
Freedom is found within the
heart, Tyranny cannot enter thee...
We are invincible, we are defiant
of Life's absurdity.
-Larry L. Conners
No comments:
Post a Comment