The Epic Of Gilgamesh Analysis

Mastering the Art of Puppetry

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the main character, Gilgamesh is first introduced as a glorious king of Uruk who is one-third human and two-thirds god. The idea that Gilgamesh is one third human and two thirds god is impossible because this would imply that Gilgamesh has three biological parents, in which two of them are gods and the other, a human. Indeed this notion is hard to believe but by closely investigating the way that the gods treat Gilgamesh, it becomes clear that this idea was not a mistake. While it may seem as if Gilgamesh is part god, a closer examination reveals that that detail about him being two thirds god only serves as a reminder that he is a superior human being, and because of this, Gilgamesh

This is significant because if the gods can present themselves in the form of Gilgamesh, it becomes evident that the one third of Gilgamesh that is human serves as a rebound for the gods’

His actions are anything but civilized, yet the people of Uruk can only complain about him. They lament to the gods: “A goddess made him, strong as a savage bull, none can withstand his arms….His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the nobel” (Gilgamesh, 13). Gilgamesh oppresses his own people and yet he is still the king of Uruk. The people of Uruk know that Gilgamesh is part god and they respect that part of him. This can be seen when the people state in the very beginning, “a goddess made him” (Gilgamesh, 13). The fact that this is stated first in their lament emphasizes that they are in disbelief that a creation of god can be flawed. Flawed in the sense that they were secured from the dangers outside of the walls, but were not secure from the dangers within the walls. Oddly enough, they do not blame Gilgamesh’s godly strength. Instead, they blame it on Gilgamesh’s lust. Lust is a very strong sexual desire that is not often portrayed as a god-like characteristic. This aspect emphasizes the human side of Gilgamesh that is not described in the prologue. This accusation subconsciously serves as a tool of propaganda for the gods. It serves to portray that humans are the ones to blame and that the gods are never at fault. This notion portrays the human side of Gilgamesh as the culprit and implies that godly part of him had no effect on his