Epic Of Gilgamesh Research Paper

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story that tells about the quests of King Gilgamesh of Uruk. Gilgamesh is portrayed as a very violent, selfish, ruthless, leader. The gods punish his prideful behavior by killing his greatest ally Enkidu. Horrified by his death, Gilgamesh begins to question the possibility of his own demise, thus leading him on a quest for immortality. He eventually comes upon Utnapishtim, a once mortal that was granted immortally for his efforts during the Great Flood. Gilgamesh finally gets to ask how to become immortal, where Utnapishtim tells him the story of the flood. By evaluating the detailed events that are told to Gilgamesh by Utnapishtim as he recounts the events of the Great flood, much can be learned about the great

For one, the flood expressed the significance of the two rivers and how the flooding of these two rivers could result in abundant harvest one year, yet bring drought and starvation the next. Further, Enlil’s destructive decisions were of selfish intent. ”Wisest of gods, hero Enlil, how could you so senselessly bring down the flood? Here Ea expresses that famine, plagues etc, would have been a much more fitting punishment as killing some people would be more fitting, instead of destroying all of humanity. Enlil listened and understood, this is where he took Utnapishtim and his wife by the hands and granted them eternal life. This particular part of the story was significant because it showed Gilgamesh the error in his ways. Enlil made a very brash, impulsive decision to destroy all of humanity and was condemned by the gods in the end. This reflects to Gilgamesh, that his selfish and violent nature was inappropriate and unfit for a king such as himself to behave in such a manner. Gilgamesh’s quest to make a name for himself proved futile and Utnapishtim is telling Gilgamesh that he could make a name for himself by being a good king and providing for his people. At the end of the story, Gilgamesh finally understands all that Utnapishtim is saying, and returns to his people wiser than ever before. This is when “there is moral growth, and Gilgamesh is able to

Firstly, the ancient Mesopotamians were perpetually caught between the bounty of their river valley and the misery of its floods and droughts. In these ways, the Epic of Gilgamesh actually revealed the values and struggles of the culture in which it was created. It was created as a mirror of the society which formed it. Overall, this story is very indicative of the environment of Mesopotamia, as the violent, unpredictable, and harsh nature of the gods reflects the unpredictable and sometimes devastating floods of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia means “the land between two rivers,” and as humanity grew and flourished along the banks of these rivers, ancient people learned of both the wrath and the fruits of their natural