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Essay analysis of the epic of gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh Summary Essay
The Epic of Gilgamesh Summary Essay
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Gilgamesh’s Motif
All heroes have a very distinct personality from those that they are around. They all have a calling to be and do something great with their life. The Epic of Gilgamesh has many examples of motifs that help the reader understand why certain characters are the heroes. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are the two heroes of this epic poem and they are only heroes because of each other.
In the beginning of this epic, Gilgamesh displayed as a malicious king that had no care for his subjects. He reigned in such a way that all of his people began to feel enmity towards him. Gilgamesh’s actions led to the Mesopotamians praying to Aruru, the goddess of creation, to make a man that will be able to match up against Gilgamesh. Aruru then created
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Enkidu, a wild beastlike man to match Gilgamesh in strength and skill. Enkidu was placed in a forest where he began to live and protect the wild animals.
Once Gilgamesh saw that someone was protecting the animals from being hunted, he sent down a prostitute to seduce the trespasser. Shamhat, the prostitute, upon meeting Enkidu, was able to seduce him and it made him lose his animal attributes and become more human. Enkidu’s transformation showed him that his calling was not with the wild, but with humans. Shamhat and Enkidu then go back to the town where Gilgamesh ruled and Enkidu was able to witness the disastrous actions of their king. Enkidu begins to show his heroism when he stands against Gilgamesh’s actions by challenging him. Gilgamesh and Enkidu fight until Gilgamesh notices that he cannot defeat Enkidu and vice versa. They then become friends and Gilgamesh started treating his people more exceptionally. So, in essence, Enkidu would not have been born and turned civilized if not for Gilgamesh, and Gilgamesh would not have had a chance to become a hero if not for …show more content…
Enkidu. After the two great warriors clash, Gilgamesh and Enkidu feel as if they have a calling on their life to conquer bigger and greater things since they feel indestructible together.
Gilgamesh, as hubristic as he is, decides that they will take on the great ogre Humbaba in the forest of cedar. This battle would be sure to test their ability to overcome anything, but even Gilgamesh states to his people, “I shall face a battle I know not.” The reasoning behind him doing this is for him to prove to his people that he can defeat anything without the knowledge of how to. Once they defeat the ogre, Humbaba curses them and it causes them to have problems later on.
The goddess Ishtar wants Gilgamesh to bed with her, but he rejects her because he knows about how she mistreated her previous lovers. Ishtar then sends the Bull of Heaven down to avenge this rejection and it causes Gilgamesh’s people to suffer a plague of their land. Gilgamesh and Enkidu feel as if they must defeat this Bull, not only because it will be heroic to their people, but also it would be another great challenge for Gilgamesh. After they slay the Bull of Heaven, Enkidu receives a bad dream that he will die as punishment for killing the
Bull. Enkidu’s death tore Gilgamesh apart. It made him feel as if he had no more motif or even will to fight anymore. This is understandable because Enkidu is the reason for why Gilgamesh felt indestructible and like a hero. In the end, Gilgamesh seeks to find a way to immortality to avenge for the death of Enkidu, but does not find it. Enkidu and Gilgamesh brought out the best in each other and without the other, they would fall apart. They were triumphant with each other, but Gilgamesh did not listen to Enkidu’s advice which led to the killing of Humbaba, the Bull, and then later the death of Enkidu. Although, as heroes they did conquer the some of the toughest opponents.
After the defeat, Gilgamesh is wanted by the goddess Ishtar. Gilgamesh does not want to be Ishtar’s lover, so Ishtar request her father to send the Bull of Heaven to defeat Gilgamesh. But the power friendship Enkidu and Gilgamesh defeat the Bull of Heaven. The gods are upset by the death of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven and seeks revenge, they request the death of either Gilgamesh or Enkidu. Ultimately the gods decided that Enkidu must die.
They cut down trees, “then Enkidu builds a gigantic door…as a gift to Enlil.” (44) Upon their arrival to Uruk, Ishtar the goddess of sex, love and warfare wanted to wed Gilgamesh. In spite of this, Gilgamesh did not feel the same and did not wish to marry her. Ishtar was so upset with the decision of Gilgamesh that she sent down the “Bull of Heaven” (50) to kill him. The bull ultimately met its’ demise when Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed it.
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.
So “At his third snort a huge pit opened up, and Enkidu fell in up to the waist” (Tablet, 6 lines 110-111). Enkidu was created to get Gilgamesh to see his ways of how he was hurting the city of Urk. Gilgamesh knew he could not beat him so he joined him on his journey. While upon their journey, Enkidu told the elders to tell Gilgamesh not to enter Cedar Trees or bad things would happen to him but he did not listen at all so someone had to suffer the consequences. And Enkidu died because of Gilgamesh foolish actions. Gilgamesh felt that he was not as brave as Enkidu, but Gilgamesh said “I am going to die! --- am I not like Enkidu?!” (Tablet, 9 line 2). He felt like he needed to find a way to be immortal because his friend being killed made him scared of death so Gilgamesh said “I will set out to the region of Utanapishtim, son of Ubartutu, and will go with utmost dispatch” (Tablet 9, lines
Enkidu is created by the goddess Aruru as Gilgamesh’s second half; however, before he unites with Gilgamesh, he lives in the wild as a savage man, more animal than human. One day, the priestess Shamhat seduces him, and they make love for seven days and seven nights. This removes his animalistic nature and gives him completely human qualities, such as an understanding of human language. After this, he becomes a companion to Gilgamesh and together they kill Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. However, the gods decide the punishment for this violence is killing Enkidu, causing eternal suffering for
Gilgamesh is an epic of great love, followed by lingering grief that causes a significant change in character. It is the story of a person who is feared and honored, a person who loves and hates, a person who wins and loses and a person who lives life. Gilgamesh's journey is larger than life, yet ends so commonly with death. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known stories, recounts the tale of the reckless King Gilgamesh and his adventures with his friend Enkidu, a natural man created by the gods from clay to humble and teach Gilgamesh to become a better ruler. Through Enkidu’s death, the once fearless Gilgamesh becomes fearful of his own inevitable demise and journeys to find immortality. However, by finding compassion for his humanity, he is able to come to terms with his mortality and continue living wholeheartedly as the ruler of Uruk. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh learns to accept his mortality by gaining compassion for himself.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the characters and their lesson arise as the most memorable
Myths have been a great example of the hero’s journey. Many heroes have journeys and trials to face throughout their life. Most of their journeys start out with their origin and end with the return. However, the hero’s role remains identical to every other hero. Most heroes like Gilgamesh has heroic traits because of the stages in the hero's journey. Gilgamesh is a man who can turn into a hero by changing himself, even when he has unusual circumstances surrounding his birth. Gilgamesh is viewed as a hero due to the stages of the hero's journey.
In the epic of Gilgamesh, there are many complex characters. Every character involved in the story has their own personality and traits.
The epic of Gilgamesh is the story of a tyrant king, who is unmatched in strength and power. The king is feared by his people, whom ultimately through their prayers bring forth a man who is an equal to Gilgamesh, Enkidu. Enkidu is created by the gods to bring balance to Gilgamesh’s life. The two men became close friends after a test of strength is met upon meeting for the first time, they both realize they were meant for one another. The men spending much time together set off on a quest to destroy a monster named Humbaba, which they succeed. Upon them returning to Uruk, the goddess Ishtar becomes lustful towards Gi...
The beginning of the Epic finds Gilgamesh hunting immortality through the ways of old. He is trying to achieve everlasting life through the fertility of young virgins promised to another. This action by Gilgamesh caused the people of Uruk to call for the gods to restore the order which the traveler from abroad had destroyed (pg.62). From the sacred order of the goddess Aruru's mind Enkidu emerges from the profane wilderness (pg. 63). It is told that a trapper came "face to face" with the chaotic ways of Enkidu and was "frozen with fear". It is only through the love of one woman that order is brought to the life of Enkidu. He is then declared wise enough to challenge Gilgamesh and restore the order to "strong walled Uruk" (pg.65). So, when Gilgamesh is headed to the bridal bed to partake...
The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is a historic story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story portrays the short lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins as Shamat the prostitute seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh. From that moment on, the two were very close. They planned a trip to the forest of cedars to defeat the monster known as Humbaba so that Gilgamesh could show his power to the citizens of Uruk. However, Enkidu tried vainly to dissuade Gilgamesh in going to the forest. Despite Enkidu’s plead, the two continued on their adventure to the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed him.
As Gilgamesh cleans himself and his blood stained weapons, Ishtar, the goddess of love and beauty, takes notice of his beauty and offers to become his wife. Gilgamesh refuses with insults, listing all her mortal lovers and recounting the dire fates they all met with at her hands. Ishtar is enraged at the rebuff. She returns to heaven and begs her father, Anu, to let her have the Bull of Heaven to wreak vengeance on Gilgamesh and his city. Anu reluctantly gives in, and the Bull of Heaven is sent down to terrorize the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu, work together to slay the mighty bull. That following night Enkidu dreams that the chief gods met in a council and had decided that someone should be punished for the killing of Humbaba and the Bull of the Heavens. That someone is he. Enkidu commends himself to Gilgamesh, and after suffering terribly for twelve days, he finally dies.
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).