The 'Epic of Gilgamesh': Plot Overview

The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest surviving epic in history, reflected life as it was during the early Bronze Age. Many of the themes that the epic reveals are still valuable today in what it can teach us about how society was in the past. More importantly, Gilgamesh’s story teaches the reader how the lessons of his experience are significant to future generations. Such as, views on life and death and the search for knowledge and immortality. The search for immortality has plagued the minds of men and women for millenniums. However, Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality is the result of tragedy. After the death of a great friend, Enkidu, Gilgamesh fears for his own mortal life. Gilgamesh, the hero- king of the Sumerian city of Uruk is two- thirds

Gilgamesh says: “Because of my brother I am afraid of death, because of my brother I stray through the wilderness and cannot rest” (101). I would infer that if Enkidu were still alive, Gilgamesh would have no fascination with finding eternal life. In other words, it seems that Gilgamesh never had the time to ponder immortality because he was contented with his life, as it was, when Enkidu was alive. In fact, in tablet two, Enkidu tries to talk Gilgamesh out of fighting Humbaba. Gilgamesh says: “Then if I fall I leave behind me a name that endures; men *will say of me, “Gilgamesh has fallen in fight with ferocious Humbaba” (71). Long before Enkidu is dead, Gilgamesh worries about his legacy rather than finding everlasting life. In other words, he would rather be immortal through the minds of his people than possess physical perpetuity. However, Enkidu’s death marks a shift in this line of thinking because Gilgamesh is faced with the personal reality of death. Although, Enkidu and Gilgamesh reap the title and pinnacle of legacy by defeating Humbaba and slaying the Bull of Heaven, when Gilgamesh is faced with the reality of Enkidu’s death, his words loose meaning as his actions prove