Sisyphus was given a punishment by the gods, to push a rock up a hill, only to have it fall down on him again. Mersault is a person accused of murder who has spent over a year in jail. What both these characters have come to realize is that they are forced to live in these situations created by the gods, therefore they might as well enjoy or get used to them. Mersault is forced to live in a cell, without his cigarettes, and with limited visitation rights. When this happens, Mersault recalls what his mother told him. She said,...
to his memories, he overcomes imprisonment, because he really is not imprisoned anymore.

Mersault can be considered a real world interpretation of Sisyphus, only a lot different and emotionless. Mersault has never really expressed a desire for anything, whereas Sisyphus' biggest desire was that to escape his bounds of human mortality and became an immortal human.

Both the punishments are what would be considered just in our society's thinking, although viewing the individuals both the verdicts seem harsh and horrid. Overall, both these individuals accomplish a necessary goal that defies pressures put upon them, and that is their greatness.