Guwon: A fusion of Sisyphus and Frankenstein

Before I dive into the theory, let me quickly explain who these two figures are:
•Sisyphus is a character from Greek mythology who was condemned by the gods to push a giant boulder up a hill for eternity. Every time he neared the top, it would roll back down. It was a punishment meant to symbolize hopeless, endless struggle. But in modern philosophy (especially Camus), Sisyphus becomes a metaphor for the human condition — and the idea that continuing to struggle, even in absurdity, is a form of defiance and meaning.
•Frankenstein’s creature (not “Frankenstein” himself — that’s the doctor) is a man-made being, created from the body parts of corpses, brought to life but rejected by society. He’s not evil by nature — he’s lost, lonely, and desperate to be understood. His tragedy is that he was made human-like, but was never allowed to be human.

Now — onto Guwon.

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Guwon is what happens after the myth ends.

He’s not Sisyphus rolling the stone anymore. He’s the man who somehow got to the top of the hill — maybe through death, suffering, or by sheer force of will. But now that he’s free… he has no idea how to exist. He doesn’t sleep like a human. He doesn’t process emotions like a human. He watches over the town like it’s all he has — because it is. It’s no longer a boulder he’s pushing — it’s a village he has to keep from falling apart.

And just like Frankenstein’s creature, Guwon is scarred — physically and emotionally. He bears visible marks (a cut throat, injured feet) that suggest repeated violence, maybe even suicide attempts. Not just once — multiple times. And that’s key: Guwon isn’t just a man with a past. He’s a man who has died before. Maybe not literally. But something in him was erased, stitched back together, and set loose into a world he doesn’t recognize.

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He exists in survival mode. Not living — surviving.

His need to stay awake, to stay in control, is classic trauma behavior. “If I fall asleep, what if something happens?” That’s not a leader’s mindset — that’s a survivor’s. Someone who thinks rest is dangerous. Someone who’s been punished for letting his guard down.

He says it himself: “This town… it’s mine to protect.” That’s his identity now. Not a man, not a lover, not even a person — just a protector. He’s repeating the same loop as Sisyphus, but voluntarily this time. Because it’s all he knows.

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And then comes Teach.

Teach doesn’t “save” Guwon. That would be too simple. What he does is more dangerous: he makes Guwon feel. Seen. Accepted. Not just as a protector or a leader, but as a person. When Guwon finally falls asleep and wakes up peacefully — for the first time in his life — that’s not just rest. That’s a spiritual turning point. It’s his first real step toward being alive.

He even says it outright: “You know how people sleep… and wake up like it’s just part of life? I’ve never really done that. This… is the first time.”

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So here’s the theory:

Guwon is the product of a collapsed myth and a failed creation. He’s what happens when you survive your punishment but don’t know how to live after it. He’s the ghost of Sisyphus and the body of Frankenstein’s creature — constantly torn between duty and emotion, control and vulnerability, existence and meaning.

This isn’t a story about grand myths. It’s about what happens after. After the gods stop watching. After the creator abandons his work. After you’ve failed, died, been stitched back together — and you’re still here.

It’s about how terrifying — and beautiful — it is to try to live when no one ever taught you how.

And maybe that’s what this manhwa is really about.