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Gilgamesh why he wanted immortality
Why does gilgamesh want to be immortal essay
Gilgamesh why he wanted immortality
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In the epic poem Gilgamesh, King Gilgamesh goes on a humbling journey that helps him develop his flawed character. Gilgamesh develops a homosocial relationship as he travels alongside Enkidu. However, after Enkidu’s passing, he grows a fear of death, and goes on another quest seeking the answer to immortality. Gilgamesh’s desire for immortality quickly becomes more of an obsession once he realizes he is still human. Through the use of repetition and imagery, the poem shows that Gilgamesh’s need to be remembered soon becomes less of an obsession, as he begins to accept that he is a mortal but finds a legacy to leave behind through his city, Uruk. Enkidu’s passing uncovered Gilgamesh’s fear of mortality, and his obsession towards immortality. …show more content…
Utnapishtim shares his knowledge about a magical “…plant that grows under the waters,/ thorny to seize…” (79). So Gilgamesh, anxiously tied a couple of rocks to his feet to retrieve “…the thorny plant that cut his hands...” (80). The repetition and image of the thorny plant demonstrate his obsession for immortality; he did not mind the thorns, or that it was underwater, he found a way to get the plant and finally obtain immortality. Since Gilgamesh was a hubris man, it was unexpected when he announces that “he will carry the thorny plant back to [his] city./ [Where he] will give some of the plant to the elders…to share among them…and [then he] will take [his] share of the magic plant/…” (80). Although the image and repetition of the thorny plant continue to show his obsession with immortality, it also shows Gilgamesh’s change in character when instead of keeping the whole plant for himself, like one would have expected at the beginning, he decides to share the plant with the people back in his city. His change in character demonstrates how he went from being a hubris tyrant who only saw himself as a god, to a humble person who wanted to share his gift of immortality with everyone. His visit to Utnapishtim led him to find the magical plant that can make him
In the beginning of the book, Gilgamesh appears to be selfish. Gilgamesh’s “arrogance has no bounds by day or night” (62). Even though he is created by the Gods to be perfect, he misuses his powers and gifts for his own earthly pleasure. He has sexual intercourse with all the virgins of his city even if they are already engaged. Through all Gilgamesh’s imperfections and faults, he learns to change his amoral personality. The friendship of Enkidu helped to change his ways, for only Enkidu, who “is the strongest of wild creatures,” (66) is a match for Gilgamesh. Through this companionship with Enkidu, Gilgamesh starts to realize his incapabilities and need for his friend. When they fight Humbaba, they both give moral support to each other when the other is scared. Another event that changes Gilgamesh’s character is the death of Enkidu. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes through the suffering of losing a loved one. Gilgamesh experiences a pain, which no worldly pleasure can ease. By this experience Gilgamesh starts to understand his vulnerability toward death and pain. Losing his best friend causes Gilgamesh to be melancholic. At this point Gilgamesh is humbled by the fact that even he could not escape the wrath of death. Gilgamesh goes from this arrogant king to a lonely grieving person with fear of death in his heart.
After encountering the death of his friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh realizes that all men will die. Gilgamesh evolves from the beginning of The Epic of Gilgamesh as an unruly king to a realistic king who’s life ends in death. In the end after accepting that he too must die and be subject to fate, Gilgamesh settles back into his city setting, only this time to be a wise king rather than the foolish hero he once was.
Every culture has a different story of their origin. Each story varies in setting, main characters, and religious aspects. Although the stories are different, the sole purpose is the same for each – to explain how each civilization came to be. In order for a civilization to fully understand their past, they must critically break down the components of their origin story. Creation stories establish appropriate relationships within society by the revelation of the punishment laid out by the gods on unsatisfactory vassals, the importance of a hero figure, and the exposure of human survival based on nature.
Gilgamesh, feeling the fear of his own mortality, sets out on a journey to search for a way to preserve himself. Although the journey that he endures is much larger than life, Gilgamesh comes to realize that he can never achieve immortality. Before the creation of Enkidu, Gilgamesh is a man without an equal match. He is an individual with overwhelming power, and it is because of this that makes Gilgamesh a very arrogant person.
He, however, ruled with a tyrannical behavior in ways such as sending young men to fight in senseless wars, fulfilling his sexual satisfaction with young brides on their wedding night, and treating his people as if they were beneath him as human beings. Upon wrestling and defeating Enkidu in a battle, the two became extremely close as friends. Their friendship influenced and shaped Gilgamesh’s perception of the world, especially upon the death of Enkidu. Once his close friend passed away, Gilgamesh became more self-aware of his own mortality and sought for the answers of gaining immortality. Although this may seem like a selfish act of his part, Gilgamesh underwent a major character transformation during his journey in the underworld. Upon meeting and hearing the story of how Utnapishtim was granted immortality by the gods, Gilgamesh accepts the challenge put forth by Utnapishtim to stay awake for six days and seven nights. After failing the challenge, Utnapishtim was persuaded by his wife to provide Gilgamesh with a consolation prize due to his extensive journey to the underworld. He informed Gilgamesh of the existence of a magic plant at
The stories of the hunt for immortality gathered in the Epic of Gilgamesh depict the conflict felt in ancient Sumer. As urbanization swept Mesopotamia, the social status shifted from a nomadic hunting society to that of a static agricultural gathering society. In the midst of this ancient "renaissance", man found his relationship with the sacred uncertain and precarious. The Epic portrays the strife created between ontological nostalgia for a simpler time and the dawn of civilization breaking in the Near East. In this Epic, Gilgamesh is seen trying to achieve immortality through the methods of both the old and the new. His journeys through the sacred and the profane in many ways characterize the confusion arising from the unstable social climate. Therefore, the society, by writing the story of Gilgamesh, guarantees not only his immortality, but the immortality of the new order being established.
Character deficiencies and external events force these three characters to embark on a journey that may be physical, metaphorical, or both. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, but he is not a kind or gentle ruler. The narrator describes Gilgamesh as "surpassing all kings, for his stature renowned" (I.30) and yet the people pray to the gods for help because Gilgamesh "would leave no son to his father" (I.67) or "girl to her mother" (I.73). In other words, Gilgamesh sees nothing wrong with taking what he wants from his people, including their lives. However, when Gilgamesh's best friend dies, he finds himself face-to-face with his own mortality, which he is not prepared to accept as inevitable. Gilgamesh states, "I have grown afraid of death . . ." (IX. 5). He decides to continue wandering the land un...
Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.
In many literary works we see significant transitions in the hero's character as the story is developed. This is also true in the Epic of Gilgamesh with its hero, Gilgamesh. In this narrative poem, we get glimpses of who Gilgamesh is and what his purposes and goals are. We see Gilgamesh act in many different ways -- as an overbearing ruler resented by his people, a courageous and strong fighter, a deflated, depressed man, and finally as a man who seems content with what he's accomplished. Through all of these transitions, we see Gilgamesh's attitude toward life change. The goals he has for his own life alter dramatically, and it is in these goals that we see Gilgamesh's transition from being a shallow, ruthless ruler to being an introspective, content man.
Gilgamesh is an epic of great love, followed by lingering grief that causes a significant change in character. It is the story of a person who is feared and honored, a person who loves and hates, a person who wins and loses and a person who lives life. Gilgamesh's journey is larger than life, yet ends so commonly with death. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed.
“How can I rest, how can I be at peace? Despair is in my heart. What my brother is now, that shall be when I am dead. Because I am afraid of death I will go as best as I can to find Utnapishtim whom they call farwell, for he has entered the assembly of gods.” (Gilgamesh, 507) Gilgamesh finally finds Utnapishtim and demands for immortally. Untnapishtim explains to Gilgamesh that all that he did was obey the gods, in return the gods gave him immortality. Utnapishtim than gives Gilgamesh a three obstacles in order to receive immortality. “As for you, Gilgamesh, who will assemble the gods for your sake, so that you may find that life for which you are searching? But if you wish, Come and put it to the test: to Prevail against sleep for six days and seven nights.” (Gilgamesh, 511) Gilgamesh accepts Utnapishtim’s test but fails within hours and lies about his outcome. Utnapishtim’s wife feels sympathy for Gilgamesh, giving his another test in return for ever lasting life. “There is a plant that grows under the water, it has prickles like a thorn, like a rose; it will wound your hands, but if you succeed in taking it, then your hands will hold that which restores his lost youth to a man.” (Gilgamesh, 512) Gilgamesh accepts the test once again and actually succeeds but tying rocks to his feet in order for him the sink to retrieve the
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the themes of coping with loss and death and the presence of fear and uncertainty in one’s life are of significant relevance as the story unfolds. The main character Gilgamesh and the supporting character Enkidu develop a strong bond throughout the story. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh transitions from a high point in his life filled with glory and adventures to a time of misery and grieving. This leads Gilgamesh to set into perspective his own existence. From this point on, Gilgamesh dreads death and the uncertainty that surround death. Especially during the time when the story develops people had a pessimistic outlook on death and life which intensifies his fear. Loss and death and the presence of fear and uncertainty are themes recurring throughout the story and are reflected in the sorrows, lamentations and fears of the main character Gilgamesh.
... Gilgamesh is unable to go back to get another plant because he lost both the boat and his tools. Gilgamesh has the hope that this plant will free him from his burden of the idea of death; he says “I myself will eat it and so return to my carefree youth” (80). After the snake took the plant away Gilgamesh began to weep “Thereupon Gilgamesh sat down weeping, His tears flowed down his face” (81) showing that Gilgamesh is saddened by his reality. At this point Gilgamesh tells Ur-Shanabi “I have come much too far to go back, and I abandoned the boat on the shore” (81).
We see him change from a tyrannical leader to someone who has immortality on his mind. Does that sound like a good leader? The poem opens up with how Gilgamesh treats the people in his city. More importantly the women. While society back then was mostly male dominant, this was still something that was against most moral codes. The way this is translated you can tell Gilgamesh is not a popular king. “Gilgamesh sounds the tocsins for his amusement, his arrogance has no bounds by day or night.” (George, Page 839 Kindle Edition). The book even talks about how he is supposed to “shepherd” over his people but they think he is more like a “savage bull”. The journey Gilgamesh and Enkidu went on was not so heroic. This journey is to make an even bigger name for himself. I find it interesting that Gilgamesh doesn 't understand he could have more fame than ever by pleasing his people instead of pleasing himself. When Enkidu is on his death bed I don 't think the actual death of Enkidu affects him. Gilgamesh realizes his impending death and searches for immortality to obtain more fame and recognition. A very important part of the story is how the gods react to the way he has handled himself. Utnapishtim talks about the meritless journeys he went on instead of helping Uruk. This goes to show that even back in 2000 BC, they still knew how important it was to be a selfless leader. The story ends by
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a moving tale of the friendship between Gilgamesh, the demigod king of Uruk, and the wild man Enkidu. Accepting ones own mortality is the overarching theme of the epic as Gilgamesh and Enkidu find their highest purpose in the pursuit of eternal life.