Why are The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus often considered thematically connected?

The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus are often considered thematically connected because both works, published in 1942, serve as foundational explorations of Albert Camus’s philosophy of the absurd.12

Together, they establish his reputation by addressing the fundamental lack of inherent meaning in life and the human tendency to seek order in an indifferent universe. The thematic links include:12

• The Absurd: Both works examine the conflict between the human desire for meaning and the "silent," meaningless nature of existence.12
• Rebellion: Camus argues that once an individual accepts this absurdity, the appropriate response is not suicide but rebellion—finding joy and identity in the struggle itself.12
• Authenticity: In The Stranger, the protagonist Meursault embodies this philosophy by refusing to "play the game" or conform to societal expectations of meaning. Similarly, The Myth of Sisyphus uses the Greek legend of Sisyphus as a metaphor for the individual who persists in their struggle against defeat, ultimately finding definition through that very act.21

By rejecting both traditional religious and existentialist frameworks, these works collectively emphasize the necessity of living authentically despite the absence of objective purpose.23