Research

1691 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the epic

In this paper I will be encompassing the epic of Gilgamesh, the characters, themes, motifs, irony, and the story as a whole. I will start with a short summary first to get you up to speed. Gilgamesh is a Sumerian king in the city of Uruk. Gilgamesh was for lack of a better term egomaniacal, cocky, and thoughtless. But how could he not be? His dad was a king and his mom a goddess meaning he is two-thirds god. Gilgamesh is more a tyrant than a king however. Gilgamesh would take and rape women for his pleasure and kill or force work upon the young men of Uruk. The people began to pray to the gods for help to save them from Gilgamesh and his ways. How do you beat the strongest man on the face of the earth? Make one who is stronger. The gods then create a wild beast man named “Enkidu” to challenge Gilgamesh to a wrestling match and beat him. However with Gilgamesh being Two-thirds god it is kind of hard to do that.
They create Enkidu and he challenges Gilgamesh to a wrestling match but to no avail Enkidu cannot defeat Gilgamesh, but on the same side Gilgamesh cannot beat Enkidu. With his strength matched (which has never happened before) Gilgamesh declares a draw and befriends Enkidu. With his new bestie in hand Gilgamesh and Enkidu travel to the cedar forest to defeat a god named “Humbaba” who guards the forest despite the warnings from Gilgamesh’s mother Ninsun. She tells him he is being reckless and could die he replies: “Should I fall, I will have established my fame” (2.236). This is pretty much yolo before it was cool. However, you will see later that he isn’t about that life. Without heeding his mother’s warnings they embark on their journey to the Cedar Mountains. Once there they fight Humbaba and defeat him then chop down th...

... middle of paper ...

...nd his beloved city of Uruk. Humbaba has no real purpose except that he is to die to Gilgamesh and Enkidu and curse Enkidu.
Ninsun is Gilgamesh’s mother and protector. She asks the help of the sun god Shamash to look over Gilgamesh while he fights Humbaba. As a recap Gilgamesh is a feared tyrant and the gods create a warrior to defeat him. They become best friends and travel around killing things together. They get into a fight with a goddess who is in love with Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven. They kill the bull and Enkidu falls ill and dies. Gilgamesh then searches for a mystical plant that will grant him immortality but fails to achieve his goals and realizes that to truly be immortal he must leave a legacy behind that will change history forever. This concludes my critical analysis over the epic of Gilgamesh and its many hidden nuggets of advice and wisdom.

Show More
Related

  • How Did Gilgamesh Become A Better King

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur. From the ancient Mesopotamia, the poem is set where modern day Iraq is today. Composed of five Sumerian poems about Bilgamesh, which is Sumerian for Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is two parts God and one part Man who is a hero. Gilgamesh encounters many challenges and situations during The Epic of Gilgamesh that cause him to evolve into a better king. Consequential, Gilgamesh recommences his position in Urk and evolves as an improved king.

    Read More

  • The Friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is a historic story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story depicts the short lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins as Shamat the harlot 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” (18) Gilgamesh in going to the forest. Despite Enkidu’s plead, the two continued on their voyage to the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed him.

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh Is Gay

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilgamesh is an epic that has been passed down for thousands of years. The epic narrates the legendary deeds of the main character Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is two-thirds immortal and one-third mortal; however, he cannot accept his fate that one day he too will die. The entire epic tells the story of Gilgamesh’s life and searche for immortality. Through his many trials and tribulations, Gilgamesh proves that he has great physical strength. However, throughout the epic Gilgamesh also shows he is emotionally unstable and immature. The author created Gilgamesh with this flaw of immaturity so that he would be a more believable character. The depth of Gilgamesh's physical strength first appears to the reader in the prologue. Gilgamesh is said to be "the man to whom all things are known". The gods created him with great care giving him beauty and courage. "The great gods made his beauty perfect, surpassing all others, terrifying like a great wild bull". Furthermore, his beauty and power were like that of no other man. The story begins by stating that Gilgamesh is an overbearing king. He never sleeps due to his over indulgence in life. Gilgamesh keeps the city in disruption involving anyone he pleases in his corrupt demands. He sleeps with all the virgins before they are married, therefore, making them impure before their husbands have a chance to sleep with them. If Gilgamesh were a mature king, he would see no reason to show he is the most powerful. He would lead ...

    Read More

  • The Search for Immortality in the Epic of Gilgamesh

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    Enkidu is a vital part of Gilgamesh’s life. At the beginning of the story Enkidu embodies the opposite of Gilgamesh, his other half. After Enkidu’s death Gilgamesh cannot go back to life as it was, he is lost and for the first time in his life, afraid. The fate of all humankind, death, becomes the last obstacle for Gilgamesh to conquer. The dis...

    Read More

  • The Hero Of Gilgamesh And Joseph Campbell's Hero

    1158 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Change in the Character of Gilgamesh

    625 Words  | 2 Pages

    There once lived a king, the great king of Uruk in Mesopotamia. This great leader was Gilgamesh. His preserved epic is of great significance to modern day culture. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, it is a great love, followed by a lingering grief that cause a significant change in the character of Gilgamesh.

    Read More

  • How Is Gilgamesh A Journey Of Self Discovery

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Epic of Gilgamesh, we see a significant transition or development of the main character as the story progresses. Throughout the epic, we see Gilgamesh act as a tyrant, fearless warrior, depressed man, a man filled with fear, and a man who has finally accepted his fate. The epic begins by describing Gilgamesh as a king who tyrannizes his people. “He will couple with the wife-to-be, he first of all, the bridegroom after” (pg 15). We see that Gilgamesh abuses his power as king and terrorizes the people. The people of Uruk plead the gods to ease Gilgamesh’s burden. The gods answered the prayers created an equal to match Gilgamesh. Enkidu a wild-born chimera, part animal and part man, would

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    "The Epic of Gilgamesh." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton & Compnany, 2012. 99-150. Print

    Read More

  • Epic of Gilgamesh

    403 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ever since the beginning of time, man has learned to mature by trials and tribulations. In the beginning of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist Gilgamesh appears to be an arrogant person who only cares about himself. He abuses all his powers and takes advantage of people with his physical abilities. Basically in the beginning he thinks that no one on earth is better than him. However, just like all epic poems, the protagonist encounters many challenges that make him a better person. So as the story progresses Gilgamesh slowly starts to change his personality. Various events help transform this tyrant to a humble person.

    Read More

  • Pursuit Of Eternal Life In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Transformation of Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh

    1766 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Message of Love in the Epic of Gilgamesh

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Epic of Gilgamesh

    344 Words  | 1 Pages

    Throughout the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is described as being a hero, “who knew the most of all men” (Gilgamesh, pg. 3). He is described as “two-thirds a god” (Gilgamesh, pg. 4) and “the strongest one of all, the perfect, the terror” (Gilgamesh, pg. 4). Due to Gilgamesh’s great recognition, he lacks a peer, someone who is able to challenge him. However, Enkidu is formed to test Gilgamesh’s abilities. Gilgamesh and Enkidu eventually grow a strong companionship. The bond between the two characters is the most important aspect in Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu act as each other’s counterparts throughout the novel.

    Read More

  • Epic Of Gilgamesh Essay

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilgamesh is a king who works his people to death and takes what he wants from them. Gilgamesh is afraid that someone will take his fame and his spot as being king. He uses the women for sex whenever he wants it and also manipulates them. The people of Uruk cry out to the Gods for help so that they can have peace. The gods hear them after so long and sends Anu, the goddess of creation, to make a twin for Gilgamesh. Anu makes someone who is as strong as Gilgamesh brave enough to stand up to him and who will ultimately save him. Anu makes Enkidu, who is a hairy wild man who lives in the wilderness with the animals.

    Read More

  • A Summary of the Epic of Gilgamesh

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about Research

Open Document