Here, Sisyphus becomes aware of his fate, and with this awareness he rises above his fate. Three pieces of irony appear in the Myth.
The first piece of irony in the Myth concerns how the wife of Sisyphus deals with his body after he dies, and how he uses this to trick Pluto into letting him return to earth. As death was imminent, of all things he wants to test his wife's love. In a daring way he tells his wife where to place his body in an attempt to get an opposite outcome. However, out of great love and respect she does as she is told, and Sisyphus believes that his wife's behavior is contrary to human love. According to Camus: .
He ordered her to cast his unburied into the middle of the public square. When he awoke in the underworld, he was annoyed by obedience so contrary to human love. (1203).
He tricks Pluto into letting him go back to earth so that he can chastise his wife. But when he sees the face of this world again, he no longer wants to return to infernal darkness. .
The second piece of irony arises from Sisyphus is an absurd hero. From reading the Myth, "Camus associates Sisyphus as an absurd hero, for his actions on earth, and for his punishment in the underworld" (Wood 1). Sisyphus had a hatred for death, he had his scorn, and his passion for life brought about his punishment. His punishment was to have his whole being exerted toward achieving nothing. Nothing more is said about how Sisyphus endured his punishment in the underworld. However, Camus does say, "Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them" (1203). .
The third irony lies in his punishment, and how he deals with it. The gods think it was a good punishment, and it is; But Sisyphus sees his fate. As an absurd hero, he accepted, dealt with, overcame it, and was actually happy. Camus is interested in his return to the lair of the gods. For this is where he realizes his fate. This is where Camus states: "Is the hour of consciousness / he is superior to his fate / stronger than his rock (1203).
