The Transformation Of Enkidu's Character In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

In the narrative poem Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh, otherwise known as the oppressive king of Uruk, endures great transformation. In the beginning, his character is unpleasantly

revealed as self-absorbed and domineering. As the storyline progresses, there is a significant

conversion in Gilgamesh’s attitude towards life and its sole purpose. A once careless ruler

disowned by his people evolved into a greater king and reflective man. The powerful bond shared between him3 and his companion, Enkidu, is pivotal in the change of Gilgamesh’s

character. Although he is blessed with beauty, power and wisdom, there is an evident transition in Gilgamesh’s overall perspective of life, death, fear and most importantly, love after the death of his friend Enkidu.

In the begging of the story Gilgamesh has an self-absorbed character who takes whatever he wants from lands to women.

“He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk, like a wild bull he makes himself mighty, head raised over others. There is no rival who can raise his weapon against him. His fellows stand at the alert, attentive to his orders?, and the men of Uruk

become anxious in…” Gilgamesh lorded over his subjects with a curl and iron fist. He didn't lead his people he ruled them giving them no freedom. He raped woman who he took a fancy, it didn't matter if she was the daughter of a nobleman or the wife of one of his men. Gilgamesh achieved what he was building with slaves, and his drained people groaned under his

rulership.
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As the book continues there is a big change in Gilgamesh and this is because of Enkidu. The gods hear the peoples pleas and decided to make a man named Enkidu to keep Gilgamesh in his place. Enkidu was Gilgamesh’s equal and was just as spectacular. The two friends became great friend, and they did everything together from fighting to traveling and going on adventures. “Let Enkidu go ahead of you; he knows the road to the Cedar Forest, he has seen fighting, has experienced battle.” Enkidu will protect the friend, will keep the comrade safe.When Enkidu died of an illness contaminated by the gods, Gilgamesh was devastated. His heart was broken that he had lost his best friend. It was like a piece of himself had died.
After watching his friend die Gilgamesh’s attitude changes. He becomes a more loving and caring king and his perspective on life itself changes. "How can I stay silent, how can I be still? My friend whom I love has turned to clay; Enkidu, my friend whom I love, has turned to clay! Am I not like him? Will I lie down never to get up again?” After the death of Enkidu
Gilgamesh then traveled to the edge of the world. In search of a man who has immortality. He learned about the days before the deluge and other mysteries of the gods, and he wrote them down on stone tablets. “He carved on a stone stela all of his toils, and built the wall of Uruk Haven,the wall of the sacred Eanna Temple, the holy sanctuary. Look at its wall which gleams like copper ?, inspect its inner wall, the likes of which no one can equal! Take hold the threshold stone—it dates from ancient times!” When Gilgamesh comes back to his land of Uruk he has nothing to offer but the acceptance of his own mortality. He sees that what he leaves behind with his kingdom and people will be his immortality.

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In the narrative poem there is a transformation of Gilgamesh’s character. In the begging there is Gilgamesh, two thirds god one third man, who rules over his land with an iron fist. He starts to transform when he meets his new best friend Enkidu. No longer is he the curl and self absorbed leader of his past. In the end Gilgamesh lives up to the worthiness of being two thirds god and becomes the ruler that can be looked up to. This story shows many important things, one of the main ones is the value of friendship and how it can be worth more then any physical in this world.