Role Of Gilgamesh In The Epic Of Uruk

Arrogant, violent, harsh, and no self-control are self-seeking behaviors and characteristics being affixed to the king, in which all these opened doors to discontentment and dissatisfaction from people. Gilgamesh’s behavior guided him to destruction. This ego-centric manner blinded Gilgamesh from reality that his conscious tried to make him see. For an instance, Gilgamesh tried to strike down on Ishtar during their second adventure to Cedar Forest with Enkidu. Ishtar cannot handle Gilgamesh’s harsh rejection and provoked to send the Bull of Heaven against the people of Uruk.

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.

Enid was created to stop Gilgamesh but instead made the situation messier than it need to be, therefore the gods punish him with dead. “Ana, Enlil, Es and heavenly Shamash took counsel together, and Anu said to Enlil, ‘Because they have killed the Bull of Heaven, and because

Apparently, convinced not to use his power on his own people, Gilgamesh wants to channel his strength elsewhere, by challenging the gods. After Gilgamesh spurns the advances of the goddess Ishtar, she sends the Bull of Heaven to punish him. Even knowing that he has offended the gods, Gilgamesh scoffs at the punishment and crushes the Bull. Angered at this defiant action, the gods punished Gilgamesh by killing Enkidu, his only friend. And thus, Gilgamesh breaks.

Some would argue that Gilgamesh’s civility does, however, grow immensely through the epic. Since he starts off as a king and is able to do anything he wishes due to not having anyone trying to usurp him. Even when Enkidu comes into the story to stop Gilgamesh, he never succeeds. Instead they join forces, yet Gilgamesh does not gain civility and instead stays incredibly savage and fights together with Enkidu, battling demons like Humbaba and killing him for glory. It’s not till Enkidu dies and Gilgamesh realizes that he can in fact be affected by death and the gods despite being two thirds god himself.

What is depicted in the last sentence is that not every action that a god takes will stick to a certain formality such as always being good or bad. Gods can be dangerous if they don’t have things go their way as it is seen in this epic. The gods in the epic started on the right foot helping the people of Uruk which were complaining to them about their king Gilgamesh which had lost sight of the people and just focused on gaining more and more power. Gilgamesh was very brutal telling the people of Uruk that he would leave no son to his father and no girl to her mother; therefore the people or Uruk complained “You created this headstrong wild bull in ramparted Uruk… He is harrying the young men of Uruk beyond reason… The warrior’s daughter, the young m... ... middle of paper ... ...d many things could upset them very easily which meant that people should be cautious of what they did. Gilgamesh was not cautious at all in the other hand because he ended up killing Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.

Strength and power are definitely not the only possessions that could advance one in life even though they clearly distinguish the heroes from ordinary men. It is rather, more significantly, the process of internalization. No civilization emerges directly and independently – it is through the very concerns and actions of a man that one begins to assimilate as he or she encounters and surmounts them. In this epic poem, through the actions and larger than life experiences, emerged a very human concern with mortality, the quest for knowledge and also an escape from the common lot of men – death. For Gilgamesh, the most predominant heroic figure, the desires for divinity and destiny as a mortal man in this regard have become the gateway for the internalization of humanity through the following intertwining aspects: the meaning of love and compassion, the meaning of loss and of growing older as well as the meaning of mortality.

Zeus of the strangers guards all guests and suppliants: strangers are sacred—Zeus will avenge their rights!" (Book 9 line 303-305). By saying this to the Cyclops Odysseus thinks he's going to get his way at first, but the Cyclops counter attacks by saying; "you must be a fool, stranger, or come from nowhere, telling me to fear the gods or avoid their wrath! We Cyclops never blink at Zeus and Zeus's shield of storm and thunder, or any other blessed god—we've got more force by far" (book 9 line 307-311).

However, instead of using his fortune in a noble manner, Gilgamesh acts as if he is a full god, ignorant to the consequences of his actions and how this portrayed his character to his people. "By day and by night his tyranny grows harsher... lets no daughter go free to her mother... lets no girl go free to her bridegroom." (George, 169-175). This ultimately caused the people of Uruk to pray to the gods to send a response to Gilgamesh's rule, which will be discussed later. Achilles, son of Thetis, also had divine blood flowing through his veins.

The gods, particularly Apollo, takes great offence to this and decides to put Oedipus back in his place by punishing him and his state. (Mannani 2005) The punishment of the state is a se... ... middle of paper ... ...his blood cannot be cleansed by anyone but the gods and his religion. In conclusion, Oedipus's fate is his destruction in the chain of being, the ultimate cleansing of the state, the household, and himself. His rejection and persistence to ignore the power of the gods and religion is the cause for his great demise. Oedipus, a character too proud and knowledgeable, is seen as a threat to the gods.