The Absurd in the Early Works

Abstract

Camus’ first major philosophical work, Le Mythe de Sisyphe, was completed early in 19411 and published in November of the following year. It represents an attempt “to resolve the problem of suicide.”2 At a more fundamental level, however, Le Mythe de Sisyphe is designed to treat with philosophical rigour the theme which has so often been taken to define the early thought of Albert Camus, that of the absurd.