The Sisyphean myth, negative capability and societal relevance

Abstract

Different forms of literature over the years have expressed mankind’s views, thoughts, notions, beliefs, and  inclinations. The feelings of futility, negativity, absurdism, nihilism expressed in the myth of Sisyphus is just one of the numerous representations that literature can offer. But not all literary expressions are posers of questions and problems. Certain concepts such as Keats’ Negative Capability suggest solutions to Camus’ Sisyphean  problem and its ilk. This paper explores this problem-solution relationship and finds complementarity and  possibility feasible.