Epic Of Gilgamesh Literary Analysis

Although The Epic of Gilgamesh was written nearly four millennia ago, its principle values – namely in relationships – can be seen in many contemporary works, such as the American sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Albeit the respective mediums of the works are vastly distinct, there are three main themes that can be traced throughout each of these works. The first theme is found in a seemingly tense, yet somehow lovingly personal, relationship between the main character and an authority figure. The second theme is that the main character seeks out a form of glory or immortality. Finally, in both works, the hero possesses a so-called “second-self” that lies at the end opposite the hero on the spectrum of order and chaos. It is in these specific types

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh seeks out a way to cheat death and live forever, like the gods. In fact, most of the events in The Epic of Gilgamesh outline a quest for eternal life, so it could be seen as the central plot of the entire work. After the untimely death of his good friend, Enkidu, Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim, the only man ever to be granted eternal life, and works with him to gain immortality. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh that he must stay awake for six days and seven nights in order to gain eternal life. Instead of successfully achieving this feat, Gilgamesh does the exact opposite; he sleeps for six days and seven nights. Once he fails, Gilgamesh finally settles for the idea of immortality through the glory of his acts. The walls surrounding Uruk are a prime example of the pride Gilgamesh takes in his work. It is through these types of acts that he will find his immortality. On the other hand, in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Jake Peralta is a wisecracking police officer who simply lives for being the hero. He is always first through the door of a raid, and prefers the gory, tough-to-crack homicide cases to anything else. It is easy to determine throughout the series that Jake Peralta wants to be remembered as a good cop. In the episode known as “The Chopper,” Peralta tells Captain Holt: “[s]ir, with all due respect, this is an epic case. It’s the

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero’s second self is named Enkidu. The gods specifically created Enkidu to be Gilgamesh’s match. After having many of what some may refer to as “misadventures,” the two form a deep bond. The trouble that Gilgamesh and Enkidu cause begins to upset the gods. The pair collectively slay Humbaba, Ellil’s personally appointed Cedar Forest guardian, and the Bull of Heaven who was sent to punish Gilgamesh for rejecting Ishtar’s advances. Their destructive fun does not last, though. Before long, by the will of the gods, Enkidu falls ill and passes away. Enkidu’s death causes the usually orderly Gilgamesh to leave some of his kingly attire behind for a more chaotic look. In his grief, Gilgamesh instructs the citizens of Uruk to weep. Distraught, Gilgamesh strips off his finery, puts on the skin of a lion, and roams the wilderness. In addition, this wild-man look is what he dons on his quest for immortality. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Jake Peralta has a similar relationship with a man named Doug Judy, also known as the “Pontiac Bandit”. Their relationship is first brought to fruition when Doug and Jake have to work together to solve a crime. The pair might seem a bit mismatched, seeing as how Jake is an orderly detective and Doug is a chaotic criminal. Jake Peralta, with the help of his girlfriend,