Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Beowulf

The Englsih Dictionary defines a comrade as “a person who shares in one’s activities, occupation, etc; companion, associate, or friend”. In ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’ translated by Benjamin R. Foster and ‘Beowulf’ translated by Seamus Heaney we see this comradship displayed in characters such as Gilgamesh and Enkidu, and Beowulf and his warriors. Gilgamesh and Enkidu work together many times to kill of monsters just as Beowulf and his men do with Grendle. They are willing to take any actions to fight for the person they believe. Comradship in ‘Beowulf’ and ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’ is displayed through characters by their support for one another, actions taken, and the willingness to do something.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s relationship is the pinacle

of comradship. They protect one another and are always looking out for each other even thought they come from different social statures.

In tablet VI, Enkidu and Gilgamesh kill the Bull of Heaven as everyone is parading and then Ishtar says, “That bully Gilgamesh who demeaned me, he’s killed the Bull of Heaven! When Enkidu heard what Ishtar said, he tore off the bull’s haunch and flung it at her: If I could vanquish you I’d turn you to this, I’d drape te guts beside you”(151-155). This is one way in which comradship plays out between these two characters. Enkidu hears Ishtar cursing Gilgamesh and as a friend he hulls the bulls thighs at her as a form of “shut up”. Enkidu and Gilgamesh fought together to kill the Bull of Heaven like comrads do. This is supported by their actions. Gilgamesh also tells Enkidu in tablet VI, “I will circle behind the Bull of Heaven, I will grab it by the tuft of its tail,..Then you, like a strong, skillful

slaughterer, Thrust your dagger between neck, horn, and tendon”(135-139). An important part of comradship is teamwork. This is displayed in the killing of the Bull of Heaven. They work together to destroy the fowl beast reckening and killing innocent lives. After Enkidu’s death, we see how willing Gilgamesh is to not suffer the same fate as his beloved friend. In table VIII we see the determination of Gilgamesh when he send a note to Uruk to commsison a statue of Enkidu. Gilgamesh says, “Here ye, blacksmith, lapidary, metalworker, goldsmith, jewerler! Make [an image] of my friend. [Such as no one ever] mad of his friend”(66-69). Gilgamesh is determined to have a statue in remmeberence of his friend. He wants to remember all the adventures he has had with him and all the times Enkidu has fought besides him. Enkidu was one of Gilgameshses closest comrads and he dearly misses him and therefor goes to search for immortality.
In ‘Beowulf’ we see a theme of comradship as well between Beowulf and his warriors. Beowulf volunteers to slay Grendle who is terroizing the Danes. An example of comradship is displayed in the battle between Beowulf and his warriors and Grendle. During the fight, “Beowulf’s warriors worked to defend their lord’s life, laying about them as best they could with their ancestral blades”(794-796). Beowulf’s comrads, died and bled besides Beowulf during the battle, but they all did their duty in defending Beowulf’s life. Another comrad of Beowulf, is Wiglaf. He is the only one who goes to assist an elderly Beowulf in a fight against the dragon. Wiglaf says, “Your deeds are famous, so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now with the whole of your strength. I shall stand by you”(2666-2668). He encourages his lord to fight and that he will stand by his side when no one else did. He had a choice, but choose his comrad over his own life. Wiglaf provided moral and physical support to Beowulf during his final battle.
Both Wiglaf and Enkidu go above and beyond of what is expected of them.

They both volunteered to kill monsters for their comrads and stand by their side and unfortunetly they both suffered the same fate at the end, death. A comrad is willing to die for their friend, and that is displayed in Enkidu and Wilgaf. They both go into the heart of battle knowing that they may not come back, but do it anyways. Both Wiglaf and Enkidu did things that they didn’t have to, but wanted to for their respective comrads. Enkidu didn’t need to go in to battle Hambaba and neither did Wiglaf need to go to battle the dragon. They did this by choice for the love they have for their

comrad.
Comrads go above and beyond of what is expected of them. They are like brothers to chracters and this is shown in ‘Beowulf’ and ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’. Enkidu and Wiglaf do things that some people would think twice about before actually doing. Their actions speak louder than their words. They follow their brother into battle with no second thought. Enkidu and Wiglaf support Gilgamesh and Beowulf in which this is shown by their actions and willingness to die for their comrad.