The Epic of Gilgamesh

719 Words2 Pages

Gilgamesh the king of Uruk, believed that he was immortal and treated the people of his kingdom very badly; so much so that his mother tried to talk to him about his rude behavior towards the people in the kingdom. Many feared Gilgamesh, therefore, he used his powers and done what he wanted regardless of what his people expected from him. Gilgamesh heard of a man name Enkidu that was part man and part animal, he was eager to meet him so he sought out a prostitute to go meet him and bring him back to his kingdom. Upon meeting Gilgamesh, Enkidu was not to accepting of the king and challenged him to fight. The two engaged in a fierce battle when suddenly they both realized that they were equals and that fighting was solving nothing. The people in the kingdom had prayed for an equal to Gilgamesh but did not expect the friendship that transpired. It was at this point when Gilgamesh realizes that he and Enkidu would make a great team. Finding value in his new friendship, as friendship is necessary in every human’s life, the two grew closer and Gilgamesh begins developing feelings that would soon change his life.
Gilgamesh was eager to seek out adventure and Enkidu was a bit cautious but he would always back his best friend decisions. Therefore, along he went on every journey regardless of his thoughts. For example, when he went to conquer Humbaba, Enkidu reluctantly assisted Gilgamesh and they prevailed. Although they were the victors in this particular conquest, the defeat led to a curse by Humbaba on Enkidu. Gilgamesh and Enkidu was unstoppable the two best friends had upset many gods on their journey and was never defeated by any of them. The two best friends journeyed home and received a hero’s welcome. However, upon returning t...

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...t story that has been in the world of literature for hundreds of years covers many different human elements that still exist even in today’s world, such as, fame, desire, violence, love and compassion. Love can be a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. This is a feeling that most have experienced in some type of way from the beginning of time and will never cease to exist. There was more than a bond built, between Gilgamesh and Enkidu once he died, he realized just how much he loved and appreciated his companionship. They both gained many life lessons such as, Enkidu learning to live in a civilized environment and Gilgamesh learning how to love and to treat others with respect, but more importantly, he learned how to be a human and a better King to shepherd his people.

How Did Gilgamesh Become A Better King
826 Words | 2 Pages
After the defeat, Gilgamesh is wanted by the goddess Ishtar. Gilgamesh does not want to be Ishtar’s lover, so Ishtar request her father to send the Bull of Heaven to defeat Gilgamesh. But the power friendship Enkidu and Gilgamesh defeat the Bull of Heaven. The gods are upset by the death of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven and seeks revenge, they request the death of either Gilgamesh or Enkidu. Ultimately the gods decided that Enkidu must die.
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Theme Of Friendship In Gilgamesh
1477 Words | 3 Pages
Friendship seems to be such a simple occurrence in society, however it is so much more than that. Friendship is a complex relationship between two or more people based off of mutual interests, values, ideas, and the like. While the connotation of the word friendship seems to always express goodness, joy, and happiness at times friendship can work in the complete opposite of that. One friendship gone wrong can affect a person for the rest of their life whether they realize it or not. Enkidu and Gilgamesh, though, are the prime example of true friendship regardless of how they met. They stand by each other through all their adventures and battles and then when Enkidu becomes ill and dies, Gilgamesh is right there by his side like he has always
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The Friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu
780 Words | 2 Pages
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.
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The Transformation of Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh
1766 Words | 4 Pages
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.
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The Epic of Gilgamesh
1053 Words | 3 Pages
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.
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Message of Love in the Epic of Gilgamesh
806 Words | 2 Pages
Before the coming of Enkidu, Gilgamesh was a man of great power. A being for which there was no equal match, Gilgamesh boasted about his overwhelming glory and power. However, his arrogance was accompanied with an extensive abuse of power, which pushed the city of Uruk into a state of rage. Still Gilgamesh felt no despair; he lived to display to others his majestic power. The first sign of a sincere change in Gilgamesh arises as a result of the birth of Enkidu. From the beginning, a powerful link developed between man and woman. The wise Ninsun said to Gilgamesh,"You will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you". Gilgamesh had finally met his match, a friend that would serve as his life-long companion. Upon the seal of this great friendship, Gilgamesh began to change his selfish ways. Nevertheless, he shared with Enkidu the luxuries of kindness. Setting aside his great pride and power, Gilgamesh had opened a place in his heart, and in his sumptuous life, for his beloved brother.
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Gilgamesh Relationship Analysis
1302 Words | 3 Pages
As soon as they met each other, they began to fight. This occurrence would have steered people to think that their companionship wouldn’t work out and that they would be enemies. As the story progresses, we learn that this is demonstrated incorrect by their devotion to one another. An example of this would be the resulting quote, “Gilgamesh, in silence of his people, they began to laugh and clutched each other in their breathless exaltation” (p. 4). Which must have shocked the crowd of the people when they fought. This loyalty is by showing their companionship and encouragement to one another. If Gilgamesh or Enkidu displayed weakness, the other reinforced courage and boldness that reminded them of their friendship and how they will always be
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The Journey Of Gilgamesh As A Hero's Journey
803 Words | 2 Pages
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.
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Free Epic of Gilgamesh Essays: Character of Gilgamesh
545 Words | 2 Pages
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...
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The Hero Of Gilgamesh And Joseph Campbell's Hero
1158 Words | 3 Pages
Gilgamesh is an example of someone who had many flaws and faced many struggles but, in the end, changed his attitude and became a better person. In the beginning of Gilgamesh, he is described as doing whatever he wants and being juvenile in a way. For example, in the text it says, “he was their shepherd, yet powerful, superb, knowledgeable and expert, Gilgamesh would not leave young girls alone, the daughters of warriors, the brides of young men.” With his second half, Enkidu, they entered into the first step in becoming a hero according to Campbell, the separation, by going on an adventure. At this point in the story, Gilgamesh is very arrogant. While traveling to Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh tells Enkidu, “let me go in front of you, and your voice call out: ‘Go close, don’t be afraid!’ If I should fall, I should have won fame. People will say, Gilgamesh grappled in combat with ferocious Humbaba… ensure fame that will last forever.” Next is stage two, the initiation, of the Campbell’s hero journey. Gilgamesh undergoes a trail to begin his transformation, he must fight the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh’s supportive side is starting to show when he tells Enkidu that they will win if they fight together. After killing the Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh’s confident attitude is shown once again. The next trial he faces is the death of Enkidu. He starts to show emotion when he says, “for you Enkidu, I, like your mother, your father, will weep on your plains… I will lay you to rest on a bed of loving care… and I myself will neglect my appearance after your death.” At this point his character has been greedy and then he showed his fear and supportive side. The last stage in the hero’s journey is the return. Enkidu’s death sent Gilgamesh on an adventure to fight death. From this adventure he learned his biggest lesson from Utnapishtim. He learns to appreciate life, and
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Comparison of Gilgamesh and Enkidu
887 Words | 2 Pages
Gilgamesh was two thirds of a god who possessed beauty, a gorgeous body, and great amounts of courage and strength that surpassed all other humans. His greatness was established through the wonderful walls he built around Uruk, a rampart, and a temple for Anu and Ishtar (Gilgamesh & Sandars, 61). Enkidu on the other hand was initially an uncivilized man created by the goddess of creation, Aruru. His appearance was strictly barbaric with his long hair and hairy body, whose innocent mind knew nothing of a civilized human culture (Gilgamesh et al., 62). He ate grass and lived among the other animals in the woods until a trapper spotted him while trying to catch his game and noted to his father that he “was the strongest man in the world [and] is like an immortal from heaven” (Gilgamesh et al., 62). The trapper indicated his feeling of inferiority to Enkidu in the woods as he says he is afraid of him. One could say that Enkidu rules the woods of the uncivilized just as Gilgamesh rules over the city of Uruk; over the civilized. Both men are characterized as powerful, strong men in their domain yet Gilgamesh is in fact stronger and more powerful than his brother, Enkidu whom he calls his servant, fore he is the king of Uruk and is two thirds god. Enkidu also dies halfway through the adventure the two have while Gilgamesh, who is afraid of death, goes on to find a way to live immortally. Though inferior to his king brother, Enkidu completes the other half of Gilgamesh: while Gilgamesh knows the ins and outs of the city he rules, he is not familiar with the woods or nature in the ways that Enkidu is. Though they are different from each other, they both hold parallels with one another by bringing out the best in each other, thus reasonabl...
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The Epic of Gilgamesh
395 Words | 1 Pages
We learn about ancient civilizations through literature, artifacts, and stories passed down from generation to generation. The Mesopotamian civilization is one of earth's earliest civilizations, and it's also one we know very little about. We can gather information about these people's way life, beliefs, and geographical location. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a literary work from this time period, shows us several important pieces of information that helps us understand this ancient civilization. This epic shows us the Mesopotamian peoples belief system, their views on death, and their description of the after life.
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Friendship in the Epic of Gilgamesh
1058 Words | 3 Pages
In the epic of Gilgamesh the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is very complex and necessary. Their friendship brings animal, human, and god together. Gilgamesh is changed by his friendship with Enkidu. He becomes a better person and a better ruler because of Enkidu. Enkidu’s life is enriched because of his friendship with Gilgamesh. Enkidu was created to balance out Gilgamesh, and he accomplishes this goal. The two men are very close, and love each other deeply. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu benefit from their friendship.
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Gilgamesh Fragility
610 Words | 2 Pages
The theme of "Gilgamesh" explores the fragility of the human body in relation to the emotional implications of its delicate nature. In the epic, Gilgamesh is only one-third human unlike his close friend Enkidu. Enkidu was created in the wild by the goddess Aruru to be the king's mortal companion. As a result of his fully human nature, Enkidu ideally represents the human body and its limitations. The depiction of Gilgamesh's partial immortality provides an insight to the drastic emotional disturbances humans can create. In other words, despite being part god, Gilgamesh still fell victim to the fragility of the human body. After the death of his very dear friend, Gilgamesh realizes even he has weaknesses as he mourns for his companion. Specifically,
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A Summary of the Epic of Gilgamesh
849 Words | 2 Pages
After Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh comes to the realization that one day he too will succumb to the same fate as his friend.
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The Epic of Gilgamesh

How Did Gilgamesh Become A Better King

Theme Of Friendship In Gilgamesh

The Friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

The Transformation of Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh