Theme Of Immortality In Gilgamesh

What does it mean to be immortal? Most people assume that ‘immortality’ is distinguished by a person living forever, or an undying entity beyond the limitations of death. But why would anyone really want this kind of immortality? The very concept seems to only appear in works of fiction, and most individuals don’t recognize that immortality can come with a hefty price. This is the very case when taking into account one of the oldest literary works in the world, the epic poem of Gilgamesh. The hero, Gilgamesh, achieved immortality in death, and although it was not in the traditional sense, his presence became immortal through literature and history. Throughout the story, Gilgamesh was recognized to be the greatest man within the kingdom of Uruk. Being two thirds god and one third man, his strength was beyond compare to any other counterpart. While he did seem to be wise in some aspects, his pride would usually get in

After befriending Enkidu, their relationship helped Gilgamesh see the error in his ways, ultimately becoming more aware of the most important things in life, such as loyalty, friendship, and love. After Enkidu was killed by the Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh became distraught, and began to fear his own mortality. Paul Kane presented an interesting view on this very concept within his academic review titled “Gilgamesh and the limits of mortality” stating that, “there is a shift in the narrative from an account of a heroic quest for fame, based on deeds of arms, to an inner quest for understanding and immortality” (Kane par. 15). As a result, he abandoned all that he knew in order to search for eternal life. In his quest for immortality, Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim, the Mesopotamian Noah. In the aftermath of the flood, the gods granted Utnapishtim and his wife eternal life. With this in his sights, Gilgamesh held high hopes for that Utnapishtim would be able to show him how he might achieve the same