How Gilgamech's Quest Becomes a Failure

ESSAY

Gilgamesh’s quest becomes a failure

The epic of Gilgamesh (2014) is a long story that portrays the deeds of a great hero. Gilgamesh was portrayed as two-thirds god and one third human. He ruled in the Sumerian city of Uruk and was a great hero of the past, because only such heroes were regarded as divine after death. He quest was not successful. I will prove my point in this essay by focusing on the main metaphor, his relationship with Enkidu, his fame, the rejection of Ishtar, the death of Enkidu and the journey to find eternal life.

Gilgamesh was tall, beautiful, imposing and performed great deeds and was one who looked into the great deep. “He opened passes in mountains, dug wall on the edges of well sailed the Great ocean sailed explored the end of the earth” suggests that he was very adventurous and was eager to gain knowledge .He suppressed all other kings and towered above ordinary people. “His force could smash through walls” suggests that he was brave and fearsome like a wild bull; he led troops and defended the rears and was one who his soldier could always count on. He built many holy places that the flood had destroyed and restored the rituals for the benefit of the people. Gilgamesh always had his “head held high” this suggests that he had no equal strength and wore out his companions. “He leaves no young man to his father and no bride to her bridegroom” this suggests that he oppressed the people of Uruk.

Gilgamesh searched for eternal life. The dreams he had of having a brother and good friend that will always have his back came true. Gilgamesh described Enkidu as the mightiest in the land, with strength like a rock; this suggests that Enkidu’s strength was compared with Anu’s rock which was hard and res...

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... nights and Gilgamesh failed it. He failed to get eternal life in his quest. When all this was done, Ut-Napishtim gave him a secret mystery. This was a plant in the waters below that resembles the thorn bush, with spikes like a wild rose and this plant could restore his youth. He was going to test it on a old man and then eat it himself but before they reached Uruk they stopped by a pool of cool water. While busy bathing, a snake stole the plant and yet another failure in his quest.

He was granted eternal fame. Instead he has not married Ishtar(with all the offerings), he lost both his brother and the plant that restores youth and he wasn’t granted eternal life. It would seem that he has found nothing but achieved fame, yet his quest was a failure.