Enkidu's Role In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

The repetition of this passage is significant as it establishes Gilgamesh’s claim to a figurative immortality visible in his role as king of Uruk, instead of the literal immortality he had been in pursuit of.

The passage does this by first describing the permanence and importance of Uruk and its wall in Tablet I. The epic praises both the technological advancements of the wall, “Survey its foundations, examine the brickwork! Were its bricks not fired in an oven?” (George 1), and the immensity of the city, “[thee square miles] and a half is Uruk’s expanse” (George 1). A few lines previously the narrator of the poem praises Gilgamesh as well, and tells of his many feats, including building the walls of Uruk. The way in which the narrator introduces

He, [enter quote here], and participated in the act of Prima Nocta with the young brides in his city. Though Enkidu heard of this act and was successful in stopping Gilgamesh from keeping the practice, Gilgamesh continued failing in his role as king of Uruk when he rejected Ishtar’s offer of marriage. As king, it was expected of Gilgamesh to marry a goddess so that she may bring prosperity to the city. Not only did Gilgamesh say no, he also disrespected her, and severely insulted her [insert quote here], revealing a disrespect for the Gods. Gilgamesh, a divinely appointed king, failed to accomplish a basic requirement necessary for proper kingship in Mesopotamian culture; the perpetuation of religion and proper worship of the Gods. It was the Gods themselves who created Enkidu so that Gilgamesh may have an equal to rid him of his arrogance in hopes that he’d be a better king to the people of Uruk. Ultimately Enkidu did accomplish this; it was in Enkidu’s death that Gilgamesh became aware of his own mortality. But, even with the absence of his arrogance, Gilgamesh still continued neglecting his people and his city. Spurred by his newfound fear of death, Gilgamesh abandons Uruk to wander the wild, in search of a literal immortality so that he would not suffer the same fate as his