Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Comparing and contrasting gilgamesh
Gilgamesh and the modern world
Essays about gilgamesh
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The epic of Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh was the eldest epic known, which dates back to 2000 B.C. Gilgamesh was a bad king who was very selfish, tyrant and didn’t care about whether his people were satisfied or disappointed. Day after day, the people of Uruk cried aloud to their king who didn’t seem to care, unfortunately there were other god who heard the people of Uruk. Just then, Aruru created a man who looked just like Gilgamesh named Enkidu. Enkidu was set in the forest with the animals. Enkidu and the animals became close friends. As everything went very well in the forest, a hunter speckled Enkidu and he ran to the tyrant king, Gilgamesh. After Gilgamesh heard about Enkidu, he sent a goddess name Harim to bring Enkidu to him. Harim convinced Enkidu to go back to Uruk to meet Gilgamesh. Enkidu and Harim finally have arrived to Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu had a quick battle and Gilgamesh won. Although Gilgamesh won the battle, Enkidu asked Gilgamesh to “stop oppressing your people. And try to be a more just and caring king.” Meaning stop being selfish, tyrant and start caring for your people Enkidu and the king eventually ended up becoming best friends more like “real brother” because of
…show more content…
what Enkidu had told him. One early morning, Gilgamesh was willing to go out on a battle on his own to fight Humbaba (the guardian of cedar forests).
When Enkidu was asked to join in the battle with the king; he was not so sure about that idea because he was afraid something horrible was going to happen to one of them, but at the same time he didn’t want to let his best friend take a battle on his own. The beast of Humbaba resided at the smoky mountain of Humbaba which was a really dangerous place. Gilgamesh killed the cedar forest down, just then Humbaba became very angry with the king and Humbaba sent a long arm of fire. When the two men couldn’t handle the fire flames; Gilgamesh called out to his favorite king, Shamash (the sun of god) to protect: himself, his friend and also his
people. As the king and his friend were finishing things off with Humbaba, a goddess named Ishtar was watching them and had fallen in love with Gilgamesh. After the battle was over, Ishtar came down from the sky and asked Gilgamesh to marry her. Gilgamesh replied “You’ve had too many husbands already!” With that have been said from Gilgamesh, Ishtar got angry with his response so, she ran to her father, Anu (chief god) and told him to send the Bull of Heaven. Anu sent the Bull of Heaven because he cannot say not to his daughter’s demand. The king and his friend defeated the Bull of Heaven together. Enkidu became really sick from the Gods as a punishment with the fact that he was involved in killing the Bull of Heaven. When Gilgamesh immediately heard about his friend’s sickness, he rushed to his friend’s bedside. As Enkidu was asleep he learned something important from his dream and shared it with his friend. Gilgamesh learned that “someday all life must end.” Although Enkidu left, Gilgamesh would sure win an everlasting name as long as he remained with his people. Sadly, after the king lost his friend he had to find Distant One (the man to whom the gods had given everlasting life) because to become an immortal. This is also a life lesson in today’s present-day because someday everyone will die, no one will live forever.
The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, is Gilgamesh himself. In the beginning of the book one realizes that Gilgamesh is an arrogant person. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a god. Throughout the story, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. He gains a friend, he makes a name for himself by killing Humbaba, and he tries to become immortal because of the death of Enkidu. Through these main actions his personality changes and he becomes a better person.
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.
Gilgamesh ignored many of these kingly duties and was eager to become heroic and godly. "The young men of Uruk he harries without warrant, Gilgamesh lets no son go free to his father. By day and by night his tyranny grows harsher" (George, Tablet I 67-69). The beginning of the epic depicts his kingship as tyrannical and immoral, which could go without question or complaint unless the gods will it. Although considered great for his many feats such as his great walls and military expeditions, his faults could not be questioned by the commoners, which show a flaw in Mesopotamian kingship. Therefore, the gods ask Anu to create a counterpart to Gilgamesh to balance his oppressive reign. "Let him be a match for the storm of his heart, let them vie with each other, so Uruk may be rested!" (Tablet I 97-98). Enkidu, Gilgamesh 's counterpart, was initially created as a wild, uncivilized man rather than a demigod king. His position was to serve as a person that would try to prevent Gilgamesh from becoming so lofty and boastful and to make him become mature and make rational decisions. This becomes evident in Enkidu 's first encounter with Gilgamesh at the wedding: "For the goddess of weddings the bed was laid out, Gilgamesh met with the maiden by night. Forward
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.
Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.
In Gilgamesh, he fights Humbaba with Enkidu, his best friend. Humbaba is the guardian of the Cedar Forest who was assigned by the god Enlil. Gilgamesh doesn't fight for the world, but he has his own reasons. In the text, it states, “Even if I fail I will have made a lasting name for myself’’ (181). In other words, Gilgamesh's motivation to slaughter Humbaba is not just to get rid of evil but to let his people remember him. Gilgamesh is being selfish because if he's dead, Uruk won't have a ruler, which means Uruk will be out of control. The choice Gilgamesh makes causes him not to care about Uruk but only himself. However, the encounter of Enkidu's death has turned Gilgamesh into another person. He couldn't confront the truth that Enkidu has died. Enkidu was more than a best friend to him, he was a brother whom he loved. Because of his love for Enkidu, Gilgamesh builds a statue so everyone in Uruk will remember him. This demonstrates Gilgamesh changing from selfish to selfless. This change is part of Gilgamesh's transformations towards becoming a hero. Gilgamesh changes as a result of Enkidu's death. According to the text, it states, “Gilgamesh interferes in the lives of his subjects beyond his right as king”(175). This proves that Gilgamesh was bothering and annoying the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh is going to become king soon and he shouldn’t disregard or interfere with his subject’s private life.
Although Gilgamesh starts out cruel he develops into a very kindhearted man. He is extremely supportive of Enkidu and encourages him in various situations. When the men are fighting Humbaba Gilgamesh says, ã[you] will surpass all of them... a fri...
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem that was one of the first works of literature, from ancient Mesopotamia. The epics main character is Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and one-third human and he is the king of Uruk. Despite being protector of the city he is a rapist and the gods send Enkidu to defeat Gilgamesh. However, when they meet and battle they become commendable friends afterwards. Together they go on several journeys throughout the first half of the epic and once Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh spends the second half of the epic searching for eternal life.
As an epic focused on the exploits of a partially divine king, Gilgamesh is deeply concerned with power and authority, particularly as they relate to what it means to be a good king. This theme is established at the outset of the epic, Enkidu’s creation is a response to the absoluteness of Gilgamesh’s power, although this successfully abates Gilgamesh’s brutal treatment of his people, it is Enkidu’s death that permanently alters his behavior. Enkidu’s demise at the hands of the gods is more than a deep personal loss, Gilgamesh’s impotence to prevent the death is an unprecedented inversion in the dynamics of power that catalyzes Gilgamesh’s shift from an abusive and irresponsible king to a mature ruler.
Enkidu was created to be Gilgamesh’s equal and his soul mate. ‘“You made him… now create his equal; let it be as like him as his own reflection, his second self, stormy heart for stormy heart’” (14). So the goddess of creation, Aruru “dipped her hands in water and pinched off clay, she let it fall in the wilderness” and created Enkidu (14). Before Gilgamesh had met Enkidu he loved him; ‘“… I bent down, deeply drawn towards… [Enkidu]… I loved it like a woman and wore it at my side”’ (16). Enkidu had “virtue in him” (14). He was also “innocent of mankind” (14). After Enkidu was civilized the wild animals would not be near him. He felt ...
”Despite many elders advising him not to battle Humbaba, he still embarks on the journey with Enkidu, who is expected to “take the forward position in the battle” because Gilgamesh is the king. Enkidu was created by Anu, the sky-god, to “serve as the subhuman rival to the superhuman Gilgamesh.” In tablet 2, when Enkidu is first introduced to the city of Uruk, he stands up to Gilgamesh for abusing his power to sleep with the wives’ of others. When Enkidu loses to Gilgamesh, accepts his dominance, and the two become friends.
His subjects were instilled with a feeling of fear and distrust. When he came to power as a king, he treated the people of Uruk very bad. He was a tyrant and showed no caring emotions towards his people. He forced labor on them and built the city. Afterwards, he let the city deteriorate. He raped women that he was attracted to. He slept with virgin brides even before their husbands were allowed to, which was very unfair. Everyone grumbled because of his brutality. A king’s rightful responsibility was to protect the people of his city and to not abuse his powers. After listening to the requests of the people of Uruk, the gods created Enkidu. He was just as great and strong as Gilgamesh. He lived with the animals, drinking their milk and staying in the meadows. A hunter sent a prostitute to “civilize” him and make him a human being. Enkidu sleeps with her and the animals no longer accept him. Enkidu goes to Uruk to challenge Gilgamesh and his cruel rule. He stops Gilgamesh from harassing a bride. The story very clearly presents the feelings of the people towards their king at this scene, when the people begin to cheer for Enkidu, who is fighting against their king. It is shown that the people of Uruk do not have respect for their ruler. Later, Gilgamesh and Enkidu make matters up and become really close with each other. Gilgamesh changes and becomes a better ruler. Gilgamesh and Enkidu decide to kill Humbaba, who guards the
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.
N.K. Sanders, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is one of the most well-known stories in literature. Gilgamesh ruled the city of Uruk and one of the most advanced cities during 2700 B.C. He orders his people to build the strongest walls by protecting them from dangerous attacks. In the Epic, he is described as physically strong, beautiful, and wise ruler of Mesopotamia. Yet, in the beginning, Gilgamesh was uncontrollable of his powers. His people can’t take it anymore and so they prayed to the gods. Anu hears them and sent out Enkidu, a wild man, who battles with Gilgamesh. But losses and they later become best friends. Gilgamesh decides to go on a voyage and Enkidu disagrees with him and said that it was too dangerous. They both decided to go anyway.
Many themes are incorporated into the story line of Gilgamesh. These include three very important concepts: death is inevitable, immortality is unachievable, and friendship is a necessity.