Gilgamesh Relationship Analysis

Gilgamesh is a demigod that has no real companion of his own. It seems in the beginning of Tablet 1, the arrogant king believes he can top any man and get any woman that he wants. But even a demi god needs a friend. The first sign of a genuine transformation in The Epic of Gilgamesh ascends as a result of the birth of Enkidu whom was made by clay. In the beginning, a powerful connection developed between mother and son. The goddess Ninsun, the mother of Gilgamesh, said to him, “You will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you". Gilgamesh

had finally met his equal, a comrade that would serve as his life-long companion. This was a new chapter of this great friendship, Gilgamesh began to amend his self-centered ways. Nevertheless, he

As soon as they met each other, they began to fight. This occurrence would have steered people to think that their companionship wouldn’t work out and that they would be enemies. As the story progresses, we learn that this is demonstrated incorrect by their devotion to one another. An example of this would be the resulting quote, “Gilgamesh, in silence of his people, they began to laugh and clutched each other in their breathless exaltation” (p. 4). Which must have shocked the crowd of the people when they fought. This loyalty is by showing their companionship and encouragement to one another. If Gilgamesh or Enkidu displayed weakness, the other reinforced courage and boldness that reminded them of their friendship and how they will always be

Nevertheless, he shared with Enkidu the caresses of love and kindness. Setting apart his great ego and power, Gilgamesh had unlocked a place in his heart, and his lavish life, for his beloved brother Enkidu. Sometimes it takes that one person to influence our lives in a dramatic way whether it is good or bad. Many of us readers of The Epic of Gilgamesh have thought that the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is too powerful to be just “friendship”, and must be something romantic instead, or close to it. However, I think it’s just an intensely strong bond with each other, it must be different in that era of time (a “bromance”). Of course, a part of me thinks it could be a little more which some people think is taboo and others a contemporary societal taboo in the story. In my eyes, it really isn’t a taboo just because it happens everywhere in these days and