When examining the character of Gilgamesh, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, one realizes the significance of Enkidu’s death. This death changed Gilgamesh’s views on peace, despair, and his understanding of his own mortality. This transformative moment is summarized in Gilgamesh’s own words when, wandering the wilderness he says, “‘How can I rest, how can I be at peace? Despair is in my heart. What my brother is now, that shall I be when I am dead’.” (Gilgamesh 97) From this quote we see a new aspect of Gilgamesh. One that is not motivated by his yearning for adventure and glory. He has now become a wounded man looking for peace, suffering from despair, and fearing his own death. This quote shows the reader the causes of the dramatic change in Gilgamesh’s attitude following the death of Enkidu.
The first part of the quote, “How can I rest, how can I be at peace?’” (Gilgamesh 97) displays Gilgamesh’s suffering after the death of Enkidu. Gilgamesh remains with him in mourning for seven days and nights before leaving the city of Urk. It is after his departure that he lets out these words, questioning how he is to obtain peace. Gilgamesh’s uncertainty of finding solace reveals a sharp contrast in his perception of what peace means. Earlier in
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the book, prior to his battle with Hubaba, he was content to say that, “He who leaves the fight unfinished is not at peace.” (Gilgamesh81) He used to believe that to live in peace, a man must finish the fight, and in doing so win eternal glory. He deludes himself into thinking that this glory is enough to grant a life of peace. By comparing these quotes we see his change in perception. Over the course of the book, Gilgamesh wins his fights against both Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, gaining glory in his victory. Despite these encounters we now see that Gilgamesh cannot find peace in his life. This change is a direct result of the of Enkidu’s death. His sorrow and questioning of peace marks the beginning of Gilgamesh’s search for eternal life. While the journey he embarks on does not give him eternal life, he does eventually come to find the peace he was seeking. The end of the book contains a summary of Gilgamesh’s fate, stating, “You were given the kingship, such was your destiny, everlasting life was not your destiny.” (Gilgamesh 118) This quote from the book’s final chapter is part of a reflection on the achievements of Gilgamesh. It explains that his quest for eternal life was doomed to fail, but praises all that he has accomplished, by continuing to say, “because of this do not be sad at heart.” (Gilgamesh 118). In this way the text explains that although Gilgamesh is destined to die, he should not despair. He learns that peace is obtained by accepting your fate, and that the futile struggle against it will only lead to despair. The second part of the quote, “Despair is in my heart “(Gilgamesh 97) shows us the impression that Enkidu’s death had on Gilgamesh, and the pain Gilgamesh now carries with him. Additionally, the quote specifies that Gilgamesh’s despair is in his heart. This is not an attempt to downplay the significance of his despair as solely emotional, rather it shows a form of rational thought. Earlier in the text we learn, that after sleeping with the women, Enkidu had “grown weak for wisdom was in him, and the thoughts of a man were in his heart.” (Gilgamesh 65) This quote depicts Enkidu accepting the ways of man, after being rejected by the animals. It is worth noting that Enkidu learns the ways of civilization and humanity in his heart, similar to the despair Gilgamesh feels. This concept portrays the heart as having a duel function. One that is both rational and understanding civilization, and the other that is emotional, and full of despair over the death of a friend. This further amplifies the significance of Gilgamesh’s despair. We can appreciate that his response is not purely emotional, but contain rational thinking due to the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. This relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is explained in the third portion of the quote which reads, “What my brother is now, that shall I be when I am dead.” (Gilgamesh 97) In this moment Gilgamesh’s acknowledges his mortality, and the reason for his despair.
He will be as Enkidu now is. We learn during Enkidu’s creation that Enkidu is intended to be “his equal; let it be as like him as his own reflection, his second self.” (Gilgamesh 62) This is the request that the gods and goddesses ask of Aruru, when Enkidu is being created. This passage displays to us that Enkidu and Gilgamesh are supposed to be equal. If the gods are capable of inflicting a disease on Enkidu, then they are equally capable of inflicting one on
Gilgamesh. It is this sort of prolonged death that Gilgamesh is the most afraid of. He has watched Enkidu’s suffering increase for twelve days. Even Enkidu curses his fate, and acknowledges the unheroic way he dies, when he tells Gilgamesh, “‘my friend, the great goddess cursed me and I must die in shame, I shall not die like a man fallen in battle.” (Gilgamesh 93) This section of Enkidu’s final words, as well as his earlier description of the underworld, is among the reasons for Gilgamesh’s new fear of death. Prior to his death, Gilgamesh listens to Enkidu tell him of his dream of the afterlife. In this dream Enkidu says, “They who stood in the place of the gods like Anu and Enlil, stood now like servants to fetch baked meats in the house of dust.” (Gilgamesh 92) We see from this quote the bleakness of the afterlife that Gilgamesh believes awaits him. Enkidu, his most trusted friend, describes a place of servitude for all humans. Once again Gilgamesh is reminded that this death is his inescapable fate. In another part of the quote we also see the realization and acceptance by Gilgamesh regarding his mortality. Gilgamesh chooses to specify, “When I am dead.” (Gilgamesh 97) This awareness of his own mortality is what drives him to seek a true immortal life. Prior to this point we see a Gilgamesh who is willing to accept a form of immortal recognition, shown when he says, “if I fall I leave behind me a name that endures.” (Gilgamesh71) Gilgamesh says this to Enkidu, in his attempts to convince Enkidu to accompany him on his journey to defeat Hamubaba, and retrieve the cedar from the forest. This change in thinking, from a guaranteed certainty of immortal fame, to one that is questioning his own mortality, shows us the true extent of Gilgamesh’s transformation following the death of Enkidu. While Gilgamesh eventually accepts his fate, the death of Enkidu served as a source to dramatically change his beliefs. Gilgamesh had to question his own views on how to obtain peace, the origin of despair, and the possibility of eternal remembrances. He was challenged by preconceived notions that now no longer fit the reality of his new world, one without Enkidu. This ultimate self-reflection led to his departure from the city of Urk, and marked the beginning of his journey to search for eternal life.
After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh grieves deeply and is horrified by the prospect of his own death. “Bitterly Gilgamesh wept for his friend Enkidu; he wandered over the wilderness as a hunter, he roamed over the plains; in his bitterness he cried, ‘How can I rest, how can I be at peace? Despair is in my heart” (Gil.
The quest for immortality after the death of Enkidu is the first sign that Gilgamesh has changed. Gilgamesh becomes frightened when he realizes that he isn’t immortal. After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh tries to find immortality by trying to cross the ocean to find it. He sounds pathetic as he rambles of his reason for trying to find everlasting life. His state of being at this part in the book, which is the end, is completely different from his arrogant beginning of this epic. Gilgamesh has gone from arrogant to scared.
In many literary works we see significant transitions in the hero's character as the story is developed. This is also true in the Epic of Gilgamesh with its hero, Gilgamesh. In this narrative poem, we get glimpses of who Gilgamesh is and what his purposes and goals are. We see Gilgamesh act in many different ways -- as an overbearing ruler resented by his people, a courageous and strong fighter, a deflated, depressed man, and finally as a man who seems content with what he's accomplished. Through all of these transitions, we see Gilgamesh's attitude toward life change. The goals he has for his own life alter dramatically, and it is in these goals that we see Gilgamesh's transition from being a shallow, ruthless ruler to being an introspective, content man.
Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.
Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water…” (Gilgamesh, 3,2) This is a reminder to Gilgamesh that he cannot do anything about Enkidu now. He needs to move on, start taking care of himself, and once again find pleasure in the world. Utnapishtim also speaks with Gilgamesh and informs him that, “life and death they allot but the day of death they do not disclose.” (Gilgamesh, 4,2) This means that although death can be devastating, everyone else is still left behind to carry on with life and continue humankind. We should not solely focus on one lost life when there are so many valuable people still left behind.
Before the coming of Enkidu, Gilgamesh was a man of great power. A being for which there was no equal match, Gilgamesh boasted about his overwhelming glory and power. However, his arrogance was accompanied with an extensive abuse of power, which pushed the city of Uruk into a state of rage. Still Gilgamesh felt no despair; he lived to display to others his majestic power. The first sign of a sincere change in Gilgamesh arises as a result of the birth of Enkidu. From the beginning, a powerful link developed between man and woman. The wise Ninsun said to Gilgamesh,"You will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you". Gilgamesh had finally met his match, a friend that would serve as his life-long companion. Upon the seal of this great friendship, Gilgamesh began to change his selfish ways. Nevertheless, he shared with Enkidu the luxuries of kindness. Setting aside his great pride and power, Gilgamesh had opened a place in his heart, and in his sumptuous life, for his beloved brother.
He exudes pride in a manner only rivaled by Enkidu, his best friend. Gilgamesh and Enkidu relish in their brotherhood through fighting Humbaba and the Golden Bull. Their shared life is not permanent however. After they defeated the Golden Bull, the gods look down upon Enkidu and Gilgamesh, in which they decide one of them needs to die. As the book carries on, Enkidu is struck with a deathly illness and inevitably passes on. This changes Gilgamesh’s mindset towards death. In Mitchell’s translation, it reads,“If my grief is violent enough, perhaps he will come back to life again.’ For six days and seven nights I mourned him until a maggot fell out of his nose. Then, I was frightened, I was terrified by death” (Mitchell 167). Gilgamesh, who before was enthralled with the idea of dying a hero, suddenly became terrified of death. This growth, albeit not positive growth, was a direct result of the prior circumstances. The heroes’ shared hubris angered the gods who struck Enkidu down, causing Gilgamesh to lose his best friends. This loss causes gilgamesh to grow by fearing
Gilgamesh is an example of someone who had many flaws and faced many struggles but, in the end, changed his attitude and became a better person. In the beginning of Gilgamesh, he is described as doing whatever he wants and being juvenile in a way. For example, in the text it says, “he was their shepherd, yet powerful, superb, knowledgeable and expert, Gilgamesh would not leave young girls alone, the daughters of warriors, the brides of young men.” With his second half, Enkidu, they entered into the first step in becoming a hero according to Campbell, the separation, by going on an adventure. At this point in the story, Gilgamesh is very arrogant. While traveling to Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh tells Enkidu, “let me go in front of you, and your voice call out: ‘Go close, don’t be afraid!’ If I should fall, I should have won fame. People will say, Gilgamesh grappled in combat with ferocious Humbaba… ensure fame that will last forever.” Next is stage two, the initiation, of the Campbell’s hero journey. Gilgamesh undergoes a trail to begin his transformation, he must fight the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh’s supportive side is starting to show when he tells Enkidu that they will win if they fight together. After killing the Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh’s confident attitude is shown once again. The next trial he faces is the death of Enkidu. He starts to show emotion when he says, “for you Enkidu, I, like your mother, your father, will weep on your plains… I will lay you to rest on a bed of loving care… and I myself will neglect my appearance after your death.” At this point his character has been greedy and then he showed his fear and supportive side. The last stage in the hero’s journey is the return. Enkidu’s death sent Gilgamesh on an adventure to fight death. From this adventure he learned his biggest lesson from Utnapishtim. He learns to appreciate life, and
Gilgamesh, feeling the fear of his own mortality, sets out on a journey to search for a way to preserve himself. Although the journey that he endures is much larger than life, Gilgamesh comes to realize that he can never achieve immortality. Before the creation of Enkidu, Gilgamesh is a man without an equal match. He is an individual with overwhelming power, and it is because of this that makes Gilgamesh a very arrogant person.
On page fifty-five Enkidu tells Gilgamesh what he dreams about. “Enkidu began to speak to Gilgamesh: …;... 'Enlil was wroth at celestial Shamash: "How like a comrade you marched with them daily! '"” Enkidu describes this dream, in great detail, of all the horrors of the underworld. Additionally, Enkidu describes how the gods are planning on bring Enkidu to his death, while Gilgamesh is to be spared. Enkidu is very sick at this point and is unable to do anything else, but lie on the bed. After twelve days, Enkidu dies on the bed. Gilgamesh is scared, at this point, and is afraid he might be next to die. In order to avoid death, Gilgamesh is persuaded on a journey to find immortality. Gilgamesh is later forced to live the rest of his life without being immortal. This dream is crucial to show how a main character, Enkidu, is being
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.
After Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh comes to the realization that one day he too will succumb to the same fate as his friend.
Gilgamesh realizes that if Enkidu, his equal, can die then so can he. For example, when Siduri asks him why he is so depressed, Gilgamesh replies by telling her about the adventures he and Enkidu were involved in, such as the overthrow of Humbaba. And, Gilgamesh also tells her about Enkidu's tragic death, and he says he is “afraid of death.” Enkidu’s death forces Gilgamesh into despair, but it also makes him recognize his own mortality. Gilgamesh acknowledges that he will also face death like Enkidu,his equal, so he wants break this common fate by gaining an everlasting life. Gilgamesh’s denial of Enkidu’s death shows that he doesn’t want to accept his own mortality.
As he and Enkidu are preparing for the fight, Enkidu speaks of his concerns in which Gilgamesh responds with “Here you are, even you, afraid of death. If I fall on the way, I’ll establish my name: ‘Gilgamesh, who joined battle with fierce Humbaba’”(26). This gives the idea that Gilgamesh is accepting to death at this point.... ... middle of paper ...
One of the main themes in the epic is that death is inevitable, which is shown through Enkidu's death. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh becomes very worried, because he realizes for the first time that everyone is going to die at some point in time. The fact that Enkidu is a close friend makes it even more visible to Gilgamesh that everyone is mortal. Then, along with this realization, comes the theme of denial. Gilgamesh does not want to accept the fact that he will die. He denies the truth, because he does not want to think about the truth or cope with the tragedy that has struck him. "And he-he does not lift his head. 'I touched his heart, it does not beat'" (Tablet VIII, Column II, 15-16). "'Me! Will I too not die like Enkidu? Sorrow was come into my belly. I fear death; I roam over the hills. I will seize the road; quickly I will go to the house of Utnapishtim, offspring of Ubaratutu. I approach the entrance of the mountain at night. Lions I see, and I am terrified. I lift my head to pray to the mood god Sin: For...a dream I go to the gods in prayer: ...preserve me!'" (Tablet IX, Column I, 3-12).