The Choice of Sisyphus

There's something that's been bothering me for the past few months. It's the guy named Sisyphus. If you already know the story skip the preceding sentences and jump to the next paragraph, but for those who don't, carry on. In Greek mythology, he was the Smart Alek who made a mockery out of Hades several time (just google the details). Sisyphus was convicted of “crimes against the gods” and was condemned to eternal labor. His punishment was to push a boulder up a mountain, and whenever he would come close to the top, the boulder would slip his grasps and the damn thing would come rolling down again. Talk about eternal frustration.

Here's the thing that's bothering me: what if Sisyphus suddenly decides not to push the boulder any more? I mean, would it make a difference? Would there be a punishment if ever he fails to comply with the first punishment? What could be could be worse than being frustrated for eternity? If you ask me, I would rather suffer the pain of having my liver eaten every day. Mythology never said that he was bound not choose otherwise.

“Maybe there is no punishment,” a friend told me. “Once Sisyphus stops, he would have nothing to do. He would get board, then he would push the boulder back up again, just for the heck of it.” We were drink near the takeout counter of some hotel in Tomas Morato when we had that conversation. I don't think he was already drunk when he said that. But maybe he does have a point. Maybe eternal boredom is a far worse punishment than frustration.