Gilgamesh Comparison

Azra Sabovic

Final Draft

There are two main characters, Gilgamesh and Agamemnon, who share some of the same values, while contradicting in others. Gilgamesh, as two-thirds a god and one-third a men, has taken upon journey in look for the eternal life, wile fighting with his conscience. Agamemnon, commander-in-chief of the Greek army, attacked Troy with the motif of revenge for his brothers honor, having different conscience and laws around him, which developed certain actions.

Initially in the story, Gilgamesh is living the life as a God. He is famous among the people for being powerful and no one could ever stand up to him. The people are also grateful that Gilgamesh is the one "who opened passes through mountains; and who dug deep walls

on the mountainsides;" (Ferry 4). Although Gilgamesh is living his life the way he wants it, there was a part missing: he was not eternal. Gilgamesh did not feel completely powerful and satisfied if he did not have eternal life, which would bring him fame.

This is strengthen after seeing his best friend dying with a "worm drop out of Enkidu's nose" (Ferry 63), which brought motivation to searching for eternity. Additionally, Gilgamesh wanted to go to a quest because he enjoyed the fame he had in the city, and feeling powerful over everyone else, "It is Gilgamesh who will venture into the Forest, and cut the Cedar down and win the glory" (Ferry 17). Besides, even if Gilgamesh falls, his fame is guaranteed, "If I should fall, my fame will be secured" (Ferry 17). This proves that Gilgamesh did not care if he would die, as long as his name stays imprinted in peoples mind, or better yet, history. Although he has built the city providing to people a

place to live, he has done acts which he cannot be proud with, such as molesting women, sacrificing warriors, where no one could ever stand up to him. People were very disappointment arguing that he is not a guardian he is supposed to be, "Is this the sheppard of the people?" (Ferry 5). This makes us wonder if Gilgamesh is justified for his actions. In spite of the benefits he has provided for the city, Gilgamesh has used his power in a wrong way, and caused suffering to his people. Taking into consideration the power he owns, does that power allows him to step over the expectations of people, and do what he pleases just because no human could never compete with him? The answer is no, since people have taken the initiative to complain, and the gods have decided to challenge him.
Challenging Gilgamesh by another human would be hard, and citizens of Uruk knew that. They have come up with a smart solution presenting it to the Gods. They have asked God Arura, the same god who made Gilgamesh, to make another one who could challenge Gilgamesh, "Let stormy heart contend with stormy heart that peace may come to Uruk once again." (Ferry 5). However, little did the citizens of Uruk know that Gilgamesh would become best friends with Enkidu. It is strange that, despite the fact Enkidu did not challenge Gilgamesh until later, the citizens for whom Gilgamesh thought could not do anything to him, challenged him by making the gods listen, "Aruru listened and heard" (Ferry 5). In this way, the hunter also challenged him, by contributing to Enkidu going after Gilgamesh.
Once Enkidu died, Gilgamesh experienced deep grief after a friend. Loosing Enkidu was not easy for him, which affected his feelings. Prevalent repetition emphasized his sorrow throughout the text, reminding us of the soft side Gilgamesh possessed,"Two people,companions, they can prevail together against the terror" (Ferry 26). Although heartbreaking, this has strengthen Gilgamesh's motif of keep going further into his mission, where he barely continued without his friend. Furthermore, if Gilgamesh did not continue without Enkidu, he would never know that he is not able to be eternal. Finding this to be true, Enkidu has dominated over Gilgamesh's beliefs, and conscience. Initially, Gilgamesh was satisfied with the rule that he is a bigger authority than citizens of Uruk, and they owe him everything, but after having the plant which would give him eternity, he wanted to bring it back and share it with the old people of Uruk. Instead of being selfish, as in the beginning, Gilgamesh has grew and changed. People's actions and Enkidu's death have touched Gilgamesh's mind and changed the way he was thinking, taking him to the path of being selfless. Additionally, the Gods have put him to this quest, and made Enkidu the one to die. Gods power has always exceeded Gilgamesh's authority and he was always challenged by them.
On the other side, Agamemnon has different motifs for going on his journey, which ended up being a Trojan War, lasting ten years. Paris, the son of Priam, has gone into Agamemnon's brothers house, Menelaus. Paris was treated like a royal, but he fell in love with Menelaus's wife, Helen. Kidnapping her, Menelaus was furious and dishonored. As a King, Agamemnon wanted to bring back the honor to his brother, and to his family, which is why he sailed off to Troy. The fact that Agamemnon was ready to take his army to Troy, and fight for a single women, shows that he was a good King and brother, ready to help. But, it also shows how he has no morality towards his people and unity, because he would sacrifice so many lives for one women. Yet, soldiers agreed to fight, showing their respect and standing by King.
When it comes to being a hero, one would think Gilgamesh is antihero.

Gilgamesh's decision on going to quest affected a wild man Enkidu. In their trip, Enkidu followed him and encouraged him to not be scared of all the creatures that have gotten in his way. Gilgamesh, although strong, was scared in the fights against the demon Huwawa, and Bull of Heaven. He would cry and hide himself, sometimes even weep. In each situation, instead of being like Gilgamesh, Enkidu had quick mind and knew what he had to do, which is show Gilgamesh he was not alone, "Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror" (Ferry 26). This is showing that Enkidu had more bravery than Gilgamesh, and although not his quest, did not run away from the challenges. Furthermore, when the Gods were deciding who to punish for the deeds, they have chosen Enkidu, where Gilgamesh had nothing to say in order to save him. The sun God Shamash has tried to save him because Enkidu was compressed into this trip. Initially, the mother of Gilgamesh Rimat-Ninsun, just before the trip has hit the biggest weakness of Enkidu, "Enkidu has neither father nor mother;" (Ferry 13). This proves the fact that Enkidu had no choice but to feel worthless and, therefore, go to this dangerous trip. He just accepted the guilt of Enkidu as if it was fair. This is unfair because these were Gilgamesh's quests, and he was just following his wishes. Although there is a prevalent repetition of how Gilgamesh suffers for his

friend, keeping our minds on the regret Gilgamesh has, it is still not enough to think it wasn't his fault for Enkidu's death. Enkidu died for something Gilgamesh wanted, while Agamemnon died because he wanted to protect his brother and his country.
While Gilgamesh is an antihero, Agamemnon proved himself as a true tragedy hero. Accepting the challenge of going in war to honor his brother, Agamemnon put on his back ten years of war. Being sent by Zeus, we can see Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus with great powers,"two kings with the power of Zeus" (Aeschylus 105). While sailing, there was a big decision brought up to Agamemnon. The goddess of winds Artemis has requested a sacrifice of Agamemnons daughter Iphigenia, "blood of a young girl streaks the altar" (Aeschylus 110). There was a huge decision to be brought by Agamemnon. Whether to follow his heart, the law of divine justice or his conscience? Although it was Agamemnon's mistake for the anger of the God Artemis, the punishment of killing his daughter Iphigenia would take a man with strong heart to do. Agamemnon has had many thinking and deciding, which had to happen fast. Whether to follow the law or his heart, "Obey, obey, or a heavy doom will crush me!" (Aeschylus 110). This indicates that if he does not follow the law the Gods are giving him, he will be condemned into destruction. This, also, puts on line his army, and his victory in all. He would not be able to accomplish what he wants to, defeat Troy, and he wouldn't go home defeated, but destroyed. There was the only question that really remained: Whether to sacrifice Troy or his daughter's life,and all that for law? He knew that the divine power could ruin everything he planned, and he had to make a choice.
Furthermore, Agamemnon is a father, and has love for his daughter. He knows that he will get punished, in whatever he decides to do, "Oh but doom will crush me once i rend my child, the glory of my house-" (Aeschylus 110). He is having a breakdown in his conscience, what is right and what is wrong? How to live with his hands stained from his daughters blood? How to be strong enough and kill his innocent daughter, especially for his actions? These questions have been going through his head, making this decision unbearable. However, after questioning himself and not being sure if he shall feed the fury of Gods, he realizes that the law is one, and he would have to sacrifice his daughter, "- feed their fury!- Law is law-" (Aeschylus 110). Agamemnon has recognized a path of what's right, in his opinion, and what goes with his mind, instead of heart.
In both Epic of Gilgamesh and Agamemnon, Gods have important role. In Gilgamesh, God of Sun Shamash is aiding to Enkidu and Gilgamesh while going through the quest. When the decision is about to be made, Shamash is also trying to spare Enkidu, considering the fact he was only a follower, but the Gods did not change it. In Gilgamesh, they are the ones who are setting the new challenges for Gilgamesh, first Enkidu, then Huwawa, and at the end eternal life quest, which he fails. In Agamemnon, Zeus is one of the most important Gods. According to the chorus, Zeus is "the cause of all, the one who works it all." (Aeschylus 165). Does this mean that it is Zeus fault for the tragedy made in Agamemnons family? This can also relate to Gilgamesh, if it is Zeus's fault that Enkidu died and Gilgamesh did not get his eternity? Although unknown, one can believe that the Gods were making the webs of destiny.
Furthermore, in both stories we can see the women's role. In Gilgamesh, his prostitute seduces Enkidu, and brings him to human habits and values. She is the reason why Enkidu leaves his wild life, and joins humans. At the end of Gilgamesh, Enkidu is cursing her because she has brought him to death. The same thing happens to Agamemnon. Helen is sent by Zeus, seduces Paris, and gets in fight two Empires: Greek and Troy. Not only she brings conflict, she also makes Troy lose war, people, and their land. The women are a big part of this stories because they are also making decisions which affect the destiny. Same with Clytemnestra. She is angry of her husband leaving for ten years and leaving the city on her back, and killing her daughter has put even more anger on her back. She has had so much anger in herself, that she demanded her lover to kill the king, so they can both rule, "Act for act, wound for wound!" (Aeschylus 166). She has followed her own scheme in revenging her daughter, but also the loneliness she felt for years.
In a conclusion, these two characters are somewhat similar. Gilgamesh did not get his eternity, and Agamemnon is murdered, trying to satisfy his country. both of the endings are, in a way not satisfying as expected, but at least the characters clashed together at some pints. These two tragic stories are so astonishing, that are still in the world today being read multiple times.