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Gilgamesh transformation of character
Gilgamesh transformation of character
The epic of gilgamesh why did he change
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When analyzing the character Gilgamesh, the questions arose; who is he, what type of person is being exemplified, and what role does he play? The answer to these questions can be somewhat challenging to answer because his character transitions throughout the reading of the “Epic of Gilgamesh”. Over the course of the Epic, he transitions from an astringent leader of the community to someone who has more humbleness to his character. Gilgamesh’s character is transformed from power hungry, to prowess, and then a humbled individual. In the Epic, Gilgamesh has such an appetite for power that he must seek the key to eternal life so he can live forever. The fact that he possesses anything a person could ask for is not enough to satisfy his taste of …show more content…
The death of his friend Enkidu plays a big role in this transformation. Gilgamesh goes from independent to having companionship, which he had never had, back to being alone again. This grief would incite in him the fear of his own mortality and drive him to press forward for the answer to immortal life. Pressing forward on this journey would prove to be a daunting task for Gilgamesh. The struggle of losing his friend and the difficult terrain brings him to a low that he had never experienced before. This would become apparent even to the tavern keeper as she tells him of the, “woe in his vitals” that he possesses. The response from the King of Uruk puts things in perspective as he states, “I could find no …show more content…
This becomes apparent to the reader as the Epic describes how he treats the people of Uruk ruling them with not a care other than his own. Nevertheless, the God Anu can take part of the blame for this outcome because Gilgamesh had been created with such physical and divine characteristics that no other could match his greatness. As the character of Enkidu was introduced, Gilgamesh’s character transitioned to that of a more courageous one. The King of Uruk would come to share his power in battle with the one who stood up against him. Gilgamesh would come to the realization that he was not as powerful as he had made up in his mind in the battle with Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. This transition to his lack of power becomes evident as Gilgamesh requires help from Enkidu in both battles and Shamash in one. The final part of Gilgamesh’s transition would begin with Enkidu as well. The loss of his companion would become a humbling experience for Gilgamesh. His heartache is such that the realization of his own mortality comes into question. This would prove to be another unpretentious blow to his character as he suffers another great loss. As the King Gilgamesh returns to his beautiful land of Uruk, he is not the same King he was when he
Gilgamesh is restless, becomes fearsome of death, and stops having basic hygiene all because of Enkidu’s death . Without Enkidu Gilgamesh is nothing. When Gilgamesh and Jesus lose their followers/friend their life spirals out of control and they become more unstable than ever before.
Moreover, He deems himself an equal by establishing friendship with Enkidu who is just a commoner but calls him a ‘brother’ and grieves at his death. This shows that he has a human compassionate heart. However, Gilgamesh, who is more divine than human, uses his powers as if he was a god where his actions had no consequences. He turns into a tyranny more by the passing day, becomes abusive, exploits newly-weds sexually, insults the goddess, kills a forest guardian who is divinely appointed for the role, which is responsible for the death of Enkidu, his warrior
The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, is Gilgamesh himself. In the beginning of the book one realizes that Gilgamesh is an arrogant person. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a god. Throughout the story, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. He gains a friend, he makes a name for himself by killing Humbaba, and he tries to become immortal because of the death of Enkidu. Through these main actions his personality changes and he becomes a better person.
The Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. Foster, Benjamin R. New York: W W Norton & Co Inc, 2001. Print.
The idealization of Gilgamesh success will help its ethical structure. However, in the beginning of the epic Gilgamesh was very arrogant by the gods and so the people of Uruk decide to teach him a lesson. They sent Enkidu. At first they were enemies and soon after they became friends during their dangerous journey. It has been a long time Gilgamesh needed a friend and we learned that in the epic they teach each other some lesson and their friendship grow stronger. They were now brothers and they both show some weaknesses but they teach each other how they can conquer it. During the whole journey Gilgamesh has truly changed for the better. So, the people of Uruk can learn from their ruler. They realize that the king has risked his life and that the people of Uruk ethical structure was created. They had specialized occupations and the most common work was architecture. They were the ones who build the strongest and tallest walls to make sure that the accomplishments of Gilgamesh will remain forever. The people of Uruk were also educated, they were the first city to ever discover literature and writing. Gilgamesh was amazed by his people and he was content with everything now since all he was worrying about was being immortal. Yet, his people and the creation they construct made Gilgamesh immortal. The structure of the community must also be equal since Gilgamesh is working hard for his people,
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.
True love and immortality in life would be a dream come true to many people. To spend time with a special someone; the person one feels closest to; the so-called soul mate and to never have that high feeling of emotion end mentally and physically would greatly appeal to most people. But when death steps into the picture, even with all the pain and devastation, one starts to re-evaluate themselves and realizes the important things in life and puts it all into perspective. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the main character, Gilgamesh, is a powerful, arrogant king and part god. Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s partner, is animal-like but later takes on more humanistic traits such as his contemplation’s of death. The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is a very powerful, loving friendship. Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s soul mate, not only acting as his friend but as a lover too. Enkidu’s presence in Gilgamesh’s life allows Gilgamesh to see what is truly good in life and to accept his mortality much easier.
He takes on the aspects of outward uncivility that matches his inside. Since Gilgamesh is not civilized, he doesn’t function as well in or outside of society. When he’s looking for immortality, he relies on his strength and his uncivilized nature rather than allowing civilization to lead him to immortality. If he had allowed himself to listen to the gods who were trying to help him, the perhaps he would have achieved immortality rather than “hindering his own progress by smashing the Stone Ones” (George, 75) who were planning on helping him. 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. There’s no real evidence that Gilgamesh truly change. While the epic ends with Gilgamesh wearing his royal robes “fitting his dignity” (George, 97) and eventually accepting that not only will he not be granted
In Gilgamesh, he fights Humbaba with Enkidu, his best friend. Humbaba is the guardian of the Cedar Forest who was assigned by the god Enlil. Gilgamesh doesn't fight for the world, but he has his own reasons. In the text, it states, “Even if I fail I will have made a lasting name for myself’’ (181). In other words, Gilgamesh's motivation to slaughter Humbaba is not just to get rid of evil but to let his people remember him. Gilgamesh is being selfish because if he's dead, Uruk won't have a ruler, which means Uruk will be out of control. The choice Gilgamesh makes causes him not to care about Uruk but only himself. However, the encounter of Enkidu's death has turned Gilgamesh into another person. He couldn't confront the truth that Enkidu has died. Enkidu was more than a best friend to him, he was a brother whom he loved. Because of his love for Enkidu, Gilgamesh builds a statue so everyone in Uruk will remember him. This demonstrates Gilgamesh changing from selfish to selfless. This change is part of Gilgamesh's transformations towards becoming a hero. Gilgamesh changes as a result of Enkidu's death. According to the text, it states, “Gilgamesh interferes in the lives of his subjects beyond his right as king”(175). This proves that Gilgamesh was bothering and annoying the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh is going to become king soon and he shouldn’t disregard or interfere with his subject’s private life.
Gilgamesh is constantly searching and going on adventures to distance places, defeating the Bull of Heaven, Humbaba, and the lions in the passes of the mountain. He searches for these adventures because he wants to make the most out of life. Just being king and never leaving the city can be boring. Gilgamesh travels to distant forests and crosses “the water of death.” He is searching for something worth living for. Just as we cannot live everyday doing nothing. Gilgamesh and all of us were born with the desire to explore and live dangerously because the feeling of adventure and adrenaline helps us to believe that we are truly “living” life to the fullest.
The stories of the hunt for immortality gathered in the Epic of Gilgamesh depict the conflict felt in ancient Sumer. As urbanization swept Mesopotamia, the social status shifted from a nomadic hunting society to that of a static agricultural gathering society. In the midst of this ancient "renaissance", man found his relationship with the sacred uncertain and precarious. The Epic portrays the strife created between ontological nostalgia for a simpler time and the dawn of civilization breaking in the Near East. In this Epic, Gilgamesh is seen trying to achieve immortality through the methods of both the old and the new. His journeys through the sacred and the profane in many ways characterize the confusion arising from the unstable social climate. Therefore, the society, by writing the story of Gilgamesh, guarantees not only his immortality, but the immortality of the new order being established.
In this essay I will discuss about the main changes of Gilgamesh throughout the epic, especially after the death of his closest friend Enkidu. Does Gilgamesh change after Enkidu's death? My answer is yes because in the beginning of the epic the main hero Gilgamesh was very confident and superior among citizens of Uruk but after Enkidu’s death he started to fear. He understood that death can reach him. Moreover, he decided to go on a far journey to find immortality.
That desire is in all mankind. From the beginning of time, man has searched for the holy grail of immortality. People have looked for magical potions and searched for countless ways and spent fortunes in order to find the miracle that was to extend their lives, to turn back the clock, to keep them youthful. In this aspect, our hero, Gilgamesh, is no different. Gilgamesh’s life is somewhat similar to that of the Bible’s first man, Adam. He was designed perfectly “towering Gilgamesh is uncanningly perfect.” (pg. 4) He enjoyed paradistic conditions. He enjoys his life, his might and power, and perhaps believes that he will live forever, that he will be youthful forever. He has much to live for, is too vigorous to be truly mortal. He is after all 2/3 part divine and only 1/3 part human. Why would he not want to live forever? Was Gilgamesh, like Adam, at first given the right and desire to live forever and later lost it by an act of disobedience? Gilgamesh, like countless others, begins a quest for immortal life. He wants to make sure that he can li...
Gilgamesh was thought to be more beautiful, courageous, powerful and wise than all of the people of Uruk. These attributes were thought to be god like; and even though they were gifts of the gods he was still mortal. He came to the realization that no matter what, he would not only have to witness the deaths of others, he was subject to the same fate; being mortal. This is the one thing that he feared the most and vowed to find a way to become immortal.
As in every story there is always a hero but the hero of this story is a little different because it is part human and part god. In the beginning of the story of The Epic of Gilgamesh there was no good connection between Gilgamesh and the people that he reined due to his behavior, this was the main reason that Goddess Aruru, created Enkidu half the image of Gilgamesh. Which made Gilgamesh change his whole behavior and attitude towards others. There is a certain point in life where one has to change, and enjoy the delights of life, but for this to happen we sometimes need other people to guide us on the right track. That's what happened to Gilgamesh with Enkidus’ arrival to Uruk.