Odysseus and Gilgamesh are described in the two tales from different periods of time. Both characters are heroic representations of two ordinary men who are searching for the meaning of life. The two literary works portray them as men with certain special strengths even though they both make mistakes and experience the hardships of life. One is said to have metal strength while the other one has physical strength and this special trait helps them to find their own meaning of life through the trials and tribulations that they experience differently. This essay makes a comparison of these two tales using them as mirrors for each other. When comparing the two tales, it is very clear that both heroic characters are men with similarities and differences. One important trait that is common between the two characters is that they both possess superhuman strength which makes them dangerous and this remains useful for them when protecting their people. For instance, they encounter near …show more content…
He introduces himself to the Cyclops as ‘Nobody’’; he manages to trick and stab the Polyphemus in the eye because he wants to go and be with his wife and child. Throughout their journeys, the search for the meaning of life is portrayed by the trials and tribulations they both undergo. For instance, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk and is portrayed as one-third man and two-thirds god. Based on this, the epic is a tale relating to the myths and tales that preexisted through many generations with the subject relating his deeds to the hymns sung to the gods. Gilgamesh however oppresses his people after short breaks in the text. In return, the gods create rivalry with Gilgamesh after hearing the people’s pleas. Thus, Enkidu is formed and this challenges Gilgamesh as the tale
Gilgamesh and Odysseus are two heroes from two different time periods that were both in search of the meaning of life. The epics that the two characters are featured in Gilgamesh, was developed from early Mesopotamia and the Odyssey in early Greece. Gilgamesh was a very popular and it was very valuable to the historian of Mesopotamian culture because it reveals much about the religious world, such as their attitudes toward the gods, how a hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship.
“Good people are good because they’ve come to wisdom through failure. We get very little wisdom though failures. We get very little wisdom from success you know”, said by William Sacoyan is a very important quote. This quote is a true statement since it means that a person learns from his or her mistakes. To be old and wise a person must first be young and foolish. They must fail so they can learn. This quote is valid since it has taught millions of people that as you grow you learn and even become stronger from mistakes. In both Giligamesh and Oedipus Rex a reader can bridge ideas together that go along with the theme of good people having bad things happen to them. Giligamesh is an epic poem, whose author is unknown. This epic poem
Gilgamesh was born two thirds divine and one third human. He is described as perfection, his body created by the lady of birth and fine-tuned by the god of wisdom. He was handsome, strong, and wise. He ruled over Uruk like a “wild bull” (Puchner 60) and would harass the young men of is kingdom. Every day and night he would be out on a rampage raping all kinds of women and forcing people to build his city. Gilgamesh begins his story as a ruthless tyrant whose subjects do not like at all. Due to the cries of his people the Gods decide to intervene by creating and sending Enkidu to distract Gilgamesh so that there will be peace in Uruk. Enkidu is just as beautiful as Gilgamesh and is courageous and strong and he and Gilgamesh become quick
'No two men are alike in the way they act, the way they think, or the way they look. However, every man has a little something from the other. Although Oedipus and Gilgamesh are entirely different people, they are still very similar. Each one, in their own way, is exceptionally brave, heroically tragic, and both encompass diverse strengths and weaknesses. One is strictly a victim of fate and the other is entirely responsible for his own plight.
When looking at the evolution of man and how travel, play an important role in showing how religion and faith divided many nations. The journeys of Odysseus are similar to the Epic of Gilgamesh, in which great battles require great travels. The difference from Odysseus to Gilgamesh is one man is just a common warrior trying to get back home, and the other journeys to recognize as a hero. The culture in Ithaca is rather different from earlier BCE times in Sumerian were strength is a godly aspect. Both cultures praise conquers for great battles, but the evolution of warfare change having many great heroes battling together. Odysseus is favored amongst his people of Ithaca for being knowledgeable a heroic in battle. The story also circulates around Odysseus being help along his journey by one particular god Athena. Gilgamesh seems to be at odds with the gods due to his half god half-human structure, which allow him to be overly powerful. For the more common Odysseus, his strength came from hard work and skillful military tactics. Invert ably the need for strength or guidance is required throughout his journey, and calling to the gods for support is more commonly in the Odysseus journey home. Odysseus is praise by men with, “You shall not lack clothing, nor anything needed” (246). The hospitably aspect changes amongst different cultures his ship
The people of Uruk plead to the Gods for help, so the Gods gave them Enkidu. Enkidu was a man equally as brilliant as Gilgamesh; physically God like as well. However, Enkidu was a wild man due to the fact that he was raised by animals. Enkidu becomes human after sleeping with a woman, in turn, he was rejected by the animal world. After some time, Enkidu travels to Uruk to challenge Gilgamesh after hearing of his actions. After fighting, the two men became friends. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the distinction between class and value are apparent. Gilgamesh is idolized primarily for his God status. He is not idolized for his treatment of women or other city dwellers as it his actions are distasteful. The emphasis on the ranking of class a character has shows the reader that class was a
Odysseus is unique among epic heroes in that his strength comes not from inhuman powers or exceptional physical ability, but mainly from his mind. Odysseus, regularly uses cunning, guile, and superiority of intellect to overcome obstacles. In this paper I will compare Odysseus to other epic heroes, both in terms of character and in terms of responses to crises, comparing his reactions with those of other heroes placed in similar situations.
The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is a historic story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story portrays the short lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins as Shamat the prostitute seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh. From that moment on, the two were very close. They planned a trip to the forest of cedars to defeat the monster known as Humbaba so that Gilgamesh could show his power to the citizens of Uruk. However, Enkidu tried vainly to dissuade Gilgamesh in going to the forest. Despite Enkidu’s plead, the two continued on their adventure to the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed him.
The epic begins with the men of Uruk describing Gilgamesh as an overly aggressive ruler. "'Gilgamesh leaves no son to his father; day and night his outrageousness continues unrestrained; And he is the shepherd of Uruk, the enclosure; He is their shepherd, and yet he oppresses them. Strong, handsome, and wise. . . Gilgamesh leaves no virgin to her lover.'"(p.18, Line 23-27) The citizens respect him, but they resent his sexual and physical aggression, so they plead to the gods to alleviate some of their burden. The gods resolve to create an equal for Gilgamesh to tame him and keep him in line. This equal, Enkidu, has an immediate impact on Gilgamesh. When they first meet, both having never before met a man equal in stature, they brawl. "They grappled with each other, Snorting like bulls; They shattered the doorpost, that the wall shook."(p.32, lines 15-18) In giving Gilgamesh a real battle, Enkidu instantly changes him; having this equal gives Gilgamesh a sense of respect for another man. These two men fighting each other creates a serious mess, but they both end up without animosity toward the other.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known stories, recounts the tale of the reckless King Gilgamesh and his adventures with his friend Enkidu, a natural man created by the gods from clay to humble and teach Gilgamesh to become a better ruler. Through Enkidu’s death, the once fearless Gilgamesh becomes fearful of his own inevitable demise and journeys to find immortality. However, by finding compassion for his humanity, he is able to come to terms with his mortality and continue living wholeheartedly as the ruler of Uruk. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh learns to accept his mortality by gaining compassion for himself.
Throughout time, people of all cultures have told stories of heroes and kings. The most ancient story we have on record is the tale of King Gilgamesh. This story is an account of the King's journeys and accomplishments. Although it was written over four thousand years ago, many comparisons can be made between the society in which the story was written and our own modern society. In this essay, differences and similarities between the two societies will be examined.
The idea of fate has baffled mankind for centuries. Can humans control what happens to them, or is everyone placed in a predestined world designed by a higher power? The Epic of Gilgamesh and Oedipus The King highlight on the notion that no matter what, people cannot control what is destined to occur. Interestingly enough, many other distantly connected cultures had, and have similar gods or goddesses who play a role in the fate of individuals. Oedipus, King of Thebes, was told by the Oracle at Delphi that he would one day kill his father and marry his mother. Determined not to let this prophecy verify his fears, Oedipus does all in his power to prevent this from happening, yet fails. Similarly, Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, attempts to obtain immortality, but fails as well. Gilgamesh's and Oedipus's intense fear and ignorance cause them to try to interfere with their fates, leading to their failures and realization of the futility of trying to control destiny.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.
The epic begins with Gilgamesh terrorizing the people of Uruk. They call out to the sky god Anu for help. In response Anu tells the goddess of creation, Aruru, to make an equal for Gilgamesh. Thus Aruru created Enkidu, a brute with the strength of dozens of wild animals. After being seduced by a harlot from the temple of love in Uruk, Enkidu loses his strength and wildness yet gains wisdom and understanding. The harlot offers to take him into Uruk where Gilgamesh lives, the only man worthy of Enkidu's friendship. After a brief brawl the two become devoted friends.
To start off the analysis of the two characters, I’d like to begin with how these epic heroes are similar.