In the story of Sisyphus, if existentialism is best defined as “existence precedes essence”, Sisyphus is an existential hero because of his existential viewpoint on his torture in the underworld and his ability to control his fate. Firstly, Sisyphus’ existential viewpoint on his torture supports his status as an existential hero because Sisyphus’ task of pushing the rock up the hill indefinitely is only considered torture when he acknowledges the desolate essence of his labor. For example, Sisyphus is portrayed as an existential hero in this case because if he chooses to view the boulder-rolling as a task that merely exists to be completed in the present, he is no longer burdened. Through his acknowledgement of the existence of the task and
