To live without a friend is like barely existing, all alone, in the desolation of Siberia. However, with true friendship “two are greater than one,” as friends lift one another up and provide strength when they stumble (English Standard Version, Ecc. 4:9). Aristotle describes friendship as "a single soul dwelling in two bodies,” basically meaning, inseparable, friends will hold a everlasting bond (Laertius). With two parts forming a whole, true friendship challenges each another and works together as one. This friendship provides the ultimate test of love as the Bible proclaims that “a friend loves at all times” (Prov. 17:17). One example of this is the friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. A definition of a friend states that it is often two people “of the same nation, party, or group” (“friend” Merriam). Gilgamesh and Ennkidu exist as similar people of the same nation, because the goddess Aruru created them. They match each other in strength that immeasurably …show more content…
surpasses the strength of men. Complementing one other, the men do not act “hostile” towards each another, but rather bring out the best in their friend (“friend” Merriam). With the arrival of Enkidu, Gilgamesh becomes more of a shepherd to his people, as he no longer sits idly, but adventures out and conquers things. Also defined as “an ally in a fight or a cause,” they exemplify this as Ekindu works as Gilgamesh’s ally. (“friend” American). He aids Gilgamesh in his quest to “leave behind…a name that endures,” by “protect[ing] his friend, and guard[ing] his companion” (Sandars 10; 15). Therefore, they hold a true friendship that matches the dictionary definition. The friendship of Ekindu and Gilgamesh compares to that of Achilles and Patroclus in the Iliad, as in both friendships one motivates the other to accomplish something heroic.
In the Iliad, Patroclus persuades Achilles to return to battle and in Gilgamesh, Ekindu propels Gilgamesh to become a shepherd to his people. They differ in the fact that, unlike Gilgamesh and Ekindu who match in strength, Achilles and Patroclus do not compare in this. Possessing super human strength, Achilles bears protection because his mother dipped him in the River Styx, while Patroclus does not hold the same tremendous strength, but still performs as a great warrior. Moreover, in both friendships the men fight together for a common cause. Achilles and Patroclus work collectively to conquer the Trojan army, while Gilgamesh and Ekindu attack, as one, to defeat the great monster—Humbaba. Accordingly, with the friendship of Gilgamesh and Ekindu, greater than one, two people help build each other up as better
men.
Gilgamesh and Achilles are the products of divine mothers. Their divine blood gives them unrivaled strength and skill needed to be outstanding warriors. As a hero, Gilgamesh is admirable in the same measure as he is arrogant and tyrannical. He saves his people by preventing catastrophic outcomes to the people of Uruk by fighting the beast. He also makes sacrifices when he engages in a battle with Humbaba.
Friendship seems to be such a simple occurrence in society, however it is so much more than that. Friendship is a complex relationship between two or more people based off of mutual interests, values, ideas, and the like. While the connotation of the word friendship seems to always express goodness, joy, and happiness at times friendship can work in the complete opposite of that. One friendship gone wrong can affect a person for the rest of their life whether they realize it or not. Enkidu and Gilgamesh, though, are the prime example of true friendship regardless of how they met. They stand by each other through all their adventures and battles and then when Enkidu becomes ill and dies, Gilgamesh is right there by his side like he has always
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a historic story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story depicts the short lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins as Shamat the harlot 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” (18) Gilgamesh in going to the forest. Despite Enkidu’s plead, the two continued on their voyage to the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed him.
friendship that it is so valuable? And, more specifically, how does this truth fit with
With friends, our lives will be better, our days will be full of joy, and our unhappiness will fade away. Friends will take care when we are in need as we will support them in everything with the best we have. Life with friends will always give us wonderful memories that we will never forget for the rest of our days. Works Cited Viorst, Judith. A. Necessary Losses: The Lovers, Illusions, Dependencies and Impossible Expectations That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Grow.
After the loss of Enkidu, Gilgamesh goes into a state of mourning as evidenced by the removal of his clothing and the act of putting on a loincloth. The symbolism of the removal of clothing and putting on a loincloth is that Gilgamesh is becoming one with nature thus completing the emotional side Enkudu filled. Afterwards, he roams the plains to live a simple life in honor of Enkidu. In the Iliad, Achilles mourning of Patroclus turns into rage after seeing the body of his dead comrade: “When Achilles learns of the death of Patroclus, he bursts into tears, tearing his hair and throwing himself on the ground. His sorrowful lament is heard by his mother, Thetis, and she comes to comfort him.” (Homer 179). The showing of tears shows the intensity of the mourning that Achilles had. Also the changing of emotions quickly shows he is quick to change feelings. This quick emotional change shows that he is very spontaneous. This quote shows the length that Achilles would go for Patroclus as he had great love for his comrade in
As soon as they met each other, they began to fight. This occurrence would have steered people to think that their companionship wouldn’t work out and that they would be enemies. As the story progresses, we learn that this is demonstrated incorrect by their devotion to one another. An example of this would be the resulting quote, “Gilgamesh, in silence of his people, they began to laugh and clutched each other in their breathless exaltation” (p. 4). Which must have shocked the crowd of the people when they fought. This loyalty is by showing their companionship and encouragement to one another. If Gilgamesh or Enkidu displayed weakness, the other reinforced courage and boldness that reminded them of their friendship and how they will always be
Analysis of the Character of Gilgamesh In the epic Gilgamesh, there are many complex characters. Every character involved in the story has their own personality and traits. The main character in the novel is Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is a character who is very self-confident.
Gilgamesh was two thirds of a god who possessed beauty, a gorgeous body, and great amounts of courage and strength that surpassed all other humans. His greatness was established through the wonderful walls he built around Uruk, a rampart, and a temple for Anu and Ishtar (Gilgamesh & Sandars, 61). Enkidu on the other hand was initially an uncivilized man created by the goddess of creation, Aruru. His appearance was strictly barbaric with his long hair and hairy body, whose innocent mind knew nothing of a civilized human culture (Gilgamesh et al., 62). He ate grass and lived among the other animals in the woods until a trapper spotted him while trying to catch his game and noted to his father that he “was the strongest man in the world [and] is like an immortal from heaven” (Gilgamesh et al., 62). The trapper indicated his feeling of inferiority to Enkidu in the woods as he says he is afraid of him. One could say that Enkidu rules the woods of the uncivilized just as Gilgamesh rules over the city of Uruk; over the civilized. Both men are characterized as powerful, strong men in their domain yet Gilgamesh is in fact stronger and more powerful than his brother, Enkidu whom he calls his servant, fore he is the king of Uruk and is two thirds god. Enkidu also dies halfway through the adventure the two have while Gilgamesh, who is afraid of death, goes on to find a way to live immortally. Though inferior to his king brother, Enkidu completes the other half of Gilgamesh: while Gilgamesh knows the ins and outs of the city he rules, he is not familiar with the woods or nature in the ways that Enkidu is. Though they are different from each other, they both hold parallels with one another by bringing out the best in each other, thus reasonabl...
Philosophers have discuss and debate about friendship and the true meaning to be a friend to others Aristotle have given requirements as well as qualities a friend possession within different types of friendships. He debates that a good man does not need friends but the points he brings up proves that a good man can not live a pleasant life in solitary.
Achilles is introduced into The Iliad getting into a debacle with the leader of the Greek army, Agamemnon, during the last year of the Trojan War. Achilles starts a quarrel with Agamemnon because he has demanded possession of Achilles’ woman, Briseis, in consolation for having to give up his woman, Chryseis, so that the gods will end their plague upon the Greek soldiers. Achilles does all he can to get his loved one back, but he knows that nothing will waver Agamemnon’s decision. This is when Achil...
The legend of Gilgamesh is believed to be the first story ever written by man. Before Gilgamesh was written it was passed from mouth to mouth by the ancient civilization of the Sumerians. The Sumerians existed over three thousand years before the birth of Christ. They recorded the story of Gilgamesh in cuneiform script. Later the Sumerian story was passed on to the Babylonians, Akkadians, Asyrians, Hitties, and Persians whom had also learned to write in their own languages. The Sumerians and their language disappeared, but their story of Gilgamesh has continued.
In the epic of Gilgamesh the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is very complex and necessary. Their friendship brings animal, human, and god together. Gilgamesh is changed by his friendship with Enkidu. He becomes a better person and a better ruler because of Enkidu. Enkidu’s life is enriched because of his friendship with Gilgamesh. Enkidu was created to balance out Gilgamesh, and he accomplishes this goal. The two men are very close, and love each other deeply. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu benefit from their friendship.
Do you know what friendship is? Friendship is a close relationship or the state of being friends with other people. There is also another type of friendship, this friendship is called Biblical friendship. Biblical friendship is a friendship in which a friend is not afriad to tell you no when you are doing something wrong or this friend is not going to use you this friend would instead speak he truth or the Word of God to you.In the book, The Lions Of Little Rock, Liz and Marlee have a Biblical frienship which I will tell you about later, i will also tell you more about Biblical friendship later.
For my World Literature research project, I was tasked to formulate a research question based on one of the three stories we’ve read in class, investigate from a variety of sources about my topic, and present a digital visual presentation about my research. I decided to focus my project on the ambiguity of Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s relationship and whether or not their relationship would be classified as homosocial or homoerotic by Babylonian standards. Throughout my process, I have conducted extensive research on my topic, learned how to distinguish facts from biased analyses, and organized my information in a way the audience can understand.