Sooo… Wow. Ted Talk incoming.

Just did a bit of research on Sisyphus and I have a theory or two…

Background info: Sisyphus was punished by Zeus by believing himself to be more clever than he. He killed his own guests and travelers, stealing their belongings and, in some myths, is known to have *hounds* aid him in doing so. He cheated death TWICE and played the Gods for fools and is punished by having to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity, only for it to fall when he reaches the top. Added bonus is he has NO MEMORY of why he is doing this task.

I don’t think he is human. This much might be obvious seeing as others are saying the same, but he could be any manner of human/zombie mix. If he were not seen walking normally one day before having rubble fall on him, I’d be more confident in saying he is a God. However getting up after that rubble fell has def cemented that he is not human, so it’s still a possibility. It’s very unlikely he was bitten and changed before then, right? Although, He might have lost his memories in that accident.

From him saying, “How do you read these letters again?” to claiming he always wanted to live in a mansion and occupying space there almost like INSTINCT, to collecting “useful” people, even threatening to kill MC if he was useless, having the knowledge of how to run a sanctuary and establish order, all without proper education… It’s glaringly obvious he has experience and is intelligent, but perhaps ignorant of human customs and livelihoods (he doesn’t even know why kissing in public is embarrassing/taboo and doesn’t seem to know how to kiss either.) If he was like this BEFORE his memory was lost is the real question. More context is needed.

I think his reaction to the kiss is likely an automatic one. Something in him rejects affection from MC- something in-human. He is blushing and looks proud of himself for getting MC to like and kiss him even if he doesn’t understand the full weight of that kiss. Similar to how MC slaps his hand away when he tries to get close to him and has even attempted to murder him in his sleep ( I think the MC killed his father as well just from looking at his silhouette). Something took over him. They’re having an immune response to each other. The MC might be mixed with zombie or something similar to the ML.

Their romance will be like a Sisyphean drama, like getting closer and closer to each other, rolling that boulder up the hill, just for it to come crashing down again and again as their bodies deny each other. Those villagers and the MC are his “hounds” and he is Sisyphus, the king. That boulder he shows MC is def symbolism for the tale of Sisyphus and the plot for this story. Maybe MC is that boulder…

Thank you for reading my Ted Talk!