At the beginning of the poem, Gilgamesh is an immature, arrogant leader absorbed in self righteousness with a massive god complex. In turn, this leads Gilgamesh to being an oppressive tyrant to the people of Uruk in which he rules (Mason 15), sometimes pushing Uruk’s people half to death (Mason 16). From the start, Gilgamesh is an autocratic, despicable leader, and is viewed as so by the people. Gilgamesh’s attitude as leader drastically changes, however, when Gilgamesh befriends Enkidu. Through this friendship, Gilgamesh learns from Enkidu to become humanized and put aside qualities of tyranny and god complex for the feeling of unity with Enkidu, as Gilgamesh states that only the gods are immortal anyways, (Mason 29), and has seemingly come to terms with death. Although Gilgamesh has developed a sense of unity and humanity through a newfound …show more content…
Although Gilgamesh states that everyone dies at one point, Gilgamesh does not truly come to terms with mortality until after Enkidu’s death. As a result of the death of Enkidu, someone is viewed as an equal to Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh begins to fear death and realizes the truth of mortality, leading into a state of seemingly endless sorrow and depression. From here Gilgamesh embarks on a journey, in order to bring Enkidu back to life, and to prove that death is not inevitable and that immortality can be achieved by those with mortal blood, and of course, ultimately fails. On Gilgamesh’s journey to see Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh is given a plant that is meant to make Gilgamesh a young man again (Kovacs
Enkidu, who is a mixture of human and wild animal, creates a journey for readers and touches on the essential question of what it means to be human, as well as the transition from being uncivilized to becoming civil. “While Enkidu was seated before her…Enkidu forgot about the steppe where he was born.” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 45) Gilgamesh sends the harlot Shamhat to Enkidu in order to civilize him and to coax him into becoming a companion for Gilgamesh himself. Shamhat then goes to sleep with Enkidu for six days and seven nights and persuades him into becoming similar to a god, or in this case, humanized. Eventually, Shamhat treats Enkidu to eat bread, “the staff of life,” and to drink beer, “the custom of the land,” causing Enkidu to become
Gilgamesh was a very self confident and at times that self confidence led to him to have little compassion for the people of Uruk at he beginning of the story. He was their king, but not their protector; he kills their sons and rapes their daughters. He felt like he was superior to others due to the fact that he was two-thirds god, his mother was a goddess Ninsun and one third human. This fact is the key to all of his actions. This is also what sets him apart from the hero Odysseus.
He begins his journey to seek for Utnapishti, who was once a human and was granted eternal life because he saved humanity from the terrible flood instructed by Enlil. Utnapishti questions Gilgamesh what has he done to gain immortality and tests him a week without sleeping, “But you now, who'll convene for you the gods’ assembly, so you can find the life you search for? For six days and seven nights, come, do without slumber!” (George 95) Sleep symbolizes death, but it is also fundamental for a body to operate just like food. Since Gilgamesh is a human and has a physical body, he fails the test and realizes there is no way to escape from death. Full of despair, Gilgamesh is informed about a plant that grows in the sea could bring back youth, “There is a plant that [looks] like a box-thorn, it has prickles like a dogrose, and will [prick one who plucks it.] But if you can possess this plant, [you'll be again as you were in your youth.]” (George 98) He dives into the sea to cut the plant, yet a snake smells it and steals it. Gilgamesh returns to Uruk and accepts he is mortal, however, civilization is not and humankind will always
In the Tablet VII Gilgamesh loses Enkidu. Gilgamesh learns from this that his own mortality is fragile and sets forth becoming an immortal. Nonetheless his only option for immortally is lost to snake (Jackson Pg. 88). He is then able to gain a new take on life. Gilgamesh recognized that it is not man’s faith to live on forever, but for his own creation to carry his name into generations to come. Gilgamesh and Enkidu learned to respect one another and a friendship grew out of it (Jackson Pg. 22). They grew on each other and through Enkidu, Gilgamesh became a better King and a
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.
Everyone has qualities that are heroic and noble, and everyone has their flaws. No matter who they are, or how perfect others think they are, people still have some negative qualities that can hurt their heroic ones. In the book, The Epic of Gilgamesh, by Benjamin Foster, both Gilgamesh and Enkidu had positive and negative characteristics that affected the outcome of their journey and their adventures they experienced throughout their lives.
In Gilgamesh, Shamhat, a harlot, receives blessings and prestige through teaching Enkidu how to be an honorable, civilized man. She was asked to draw away Enkidu from the wild with her sexuality (7). She then taught him about sex, food, and drink as well as the idea of work related to manhood, “‘... [men] are engaged in labours of skill/ you, too, like a man, will find a place for yourself’” (George 2003: 12). Teaching Enkidu about sex, food, and drink is her job and is doubly important, because these are social expectations that Enkidu is expected to engage in. This is what is expected to her as a woman (George 2003: 7). Her role is particularly important, because she was the reason Enkidu comes to Uruk-the-Sheepfold. The hunters saw Enkidu
Some of Gilgamesh’s qualities are that he had a “beauty… surpassing all others” and was “two thirds… god and one third man” (13). Before Enkidu, Gilgamesh acted horribly. He was a terrible ruler and a terrible man. Gilgamesh was not all good, for example, “his lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble…” (13). He was a terrible ruler. Gilgamesh was arrogant, but very powerful in his country. His people had no choice but to listen to him. They were forced to go along with his unlawfulness and stubbornness.
Enkidu’s death evokes a disturbing thought in Gilgamesh. He finally realizes that he is mortal. He then goes about trying to find the key to immortality. Gilgamesh first seeks out Utnapishtim, the only human to gain immortality. When Gilgamesh cannot pass the test of staying awake for seven days, Utnapishtim then gives him the plant "Old Men Are Young Again." Despite this second opportunity, Gilgamesh is not triumphant in his search for immortality because a serpent eats the plant and Gilgamesh’s opportunity is lost forever. He does not realize that Enlil, the father of the gods, had already determined his destiny. It is clear from the events of the story that Gilgamesh was not to obtain everlasting life and it is no coincidence that all of his efforts fail in one way or another. This is another example of man’s lack of control where the gods are concerned
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.
In Gilgamesh, he fights Humbaba with Enkidu, his best friend. Humbaba is the guardian of the Cedar Forest who was assigned by the god Enlil. Gilgamesh doesn't fight for the world, but he has his own reasons. In the text, it states, “Even if I fail I will have made a lasting name for myself’’ (181). In other words, Gilgamesh's motivation to slaughter Humbaba is not just to get rid of evil but to let his people remember him. Gilgamesh is being selfish because if he's dead, Uruk won't have a ruler, which means Uruk will be out of control. The choice Gilgamesh makes causes him not to care about Uruk but only himself. However, the encounter of Enkidu's death has turned Gilgamesh into another person. He couldn't confront the truth that Enkidu has died. Enkidu was more than a best friend to him, he was a brother whom he loved. Because of his love for Enkidu, Gilgamesh builds a statue so everyone in Uruk will remember him. This demonstrates Gilgamesh changing from selfish to selfless. This change is part of Gilgamesh's transformations towards becoming a hero. Gilgamesh changes as a result of Enkidu's death. According to the text, it states, “Gilgamesh interferes in the lives of his subjects beyond his right as king”(175). This proves that Gilgamesh was bothering and annoying the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh is going to become king soon and he shouldn’t disregard or interfere with his subject’s private life.
Before the coming of Enkidu, Gilgamesh was a man of great power. A being for which there was no equal match, Gilgamesh boasted about his overwhelming glory and power. However, his arrogance was accompanied with an extensive abuse of power, which pushed the city of Uruk into a state of rage. Still Gilgamesh felt no despair; he lived to display to others his majestic power. The first sign of a sincere change in Gilgamesh arises as a result of the birth of Enkidu. From the beginning, a powerful link developed between man and woman. The wise Ninsun said to Gilgamesh,"You will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you". Gilgamesh had finally met his match, a friend that would serve as his life-long companion. Upon the seal of this great friendship, Gilgamesh began to change his selfish ways. Nevertheless, he shared with Enkidu the luxuries of kindness. Setting aside his great pride and power, Gilgamesh had opened a place in his heart, and in his sumptuous life, for his beloved brother.
Gilgamesh is an example of someone who had many flaws and faced many struggles but, in the end, changed his attitude and became a better person. In the beginning of Gilgamesh, he is described as doing whatever he wants and being juvenile in a way. For example, in the text it says, “he was their shepherd, yet powerful, superb, knowledgeable and expert, Gilgamesh would not leave young girls alone, the daughters of warriors, the brides of young men.” With his second half, Enkidu, they entered into the first step in becoming a hero according to Campbell, the separation, by going on an adventure. At this point in the story, Gilgamesh is very arrogant. While traveling to Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh tells Enkidu, “let me go in front of you, and your voice call out: ‘Go close, don’t be afraid!’ If I should fall, I should have won fame. People will say, Gilgamesh grappled in combat with ferocious Humbaba… ensure fame that will last forever.” Next is stage two, the initiation, of the Campbell’s hero journey. Gilgamesh undergoes a trail to begin his transformation, he must fight the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh’s supportive side is starting to show when he tells Enkidu that they will win if they fight together. After killing the Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh’s confident attitude is shown once again. The next trial he faces is the death of Enkidu. He starts to show emotion when he says, “for you Enkidu, I, like your mother, your father, will weep on your plains… I will lay you to rest on a bed of loving care… and I myself will neglect my appearance after your death.” At this point his character has been greedy and then he showed his fear and supportive side. The last stage in the hero’s journey is the return. Enkidu’s death sent Gilgamesh on an adventure to fight death. From this adventure he learned his biggest lesson from Utnapishtim. He learns to appreciate life, and
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