The Role Of Humanity In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Something In Between Answering the question of what humanity is may be the most difficult thing to do, as it is such a complex, ambiguous, and multifaceted concept. Many have tried to put a finger on what exactly makes them what they are, and the result of this is culture, stories, and myths. The overreaching conclusion in many of these myths is that man lies somewhere above beast and below gods. While this could be viewed in very simple and general terms as correct, it leaves out the fact that man often behaves very much like a beast, or like a god, while simultaneously embodying characteristics that are so alien to both of those beings. Something so intricately inherent to what makes humans what they are is the fact that in

Man is supposedly created in the image of the gods, and is similar to them in that he is aware of himself and has a higher intellect, yet his mortality sets him aside. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the King witnesses the death of his brother Enkidu, and is overcome with both grief and fear. After mourning for the appropriate amount of time, he sets out on a quest for immortality. He is told again and again by the gods that “You will never find the life for which you are searching,” (Sanders, 100) yet he cannot come to terms with the fact of his own impending death. Instead, he ponders things that all humans wonder about, asking “am I to sleep, and let the earth cover my head for ever?. . . Although I am no better than a dead man, still let me see the light of the sun” (Sanders, 100). The creator of this myth delves into the topic of humanity’s communal denial, showing that it is a universal fear, connecting them all in a sphere of uncertainty and doubt. However, while death can be seen as something to fear as in The Epic of Gilgamesh, it can also be a blessing, because it gives one a greater appreciation of the limited amount of time they do have. The god Siduri advises Gilgamesh not to take the things he has for granted, asking: “Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they

If there is one thing that can be said with certainty, it is that human life is in no way simple. They as a species have an insatiable curiosity, and feel the need to push things as far to the limit as possible. The creators of great myths and stories have decided that something that sets them apart from animals and gods is that they have the ability to feel more deeply, honestly, and intensely than any other race. They feel sadness and joy, fear and hope. They are prideful and arrogant, but have brief flashes and humility and humbleness. Unlike animals, humans are capable of such creativity and innovation, building cities and creating stories about their people which will shape how the generations to come view themselves. They are willing to sacrifice over and over for the ones they love, and they have the potential for a fall from grace as well as for redemption. Man is the only creature with a belief in a higher being, and the idea of worship and prayer would be so foreign to any but him. The Epic of Gilgamesh teaches humanity that “everlasting life was not your destiny. Because of this do not be sad at heart, do not be grieved or oppressed; he has given you power to bind and to loose, to be the darkness and the light of mankind” (Sandars, 118). Human beings are more than the beasts of the forest, and less than the gods above, so they strive to see the