Theme Of Perseverance In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

In life, whether you are human, a god, or two thirds god and one third human, one faces many challenges and obstacles. Sometimes they are dealt with alone and terrified. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh goes through many challenges and obstacles on every journey he faced. However, in Tablet X, in the beginning it shows the sadness he is facing, but the language and form of Gilgamesh’s journey develops his character by revealing his perseverance in the repetition and the action that is created of him.
In Tablet X, perseverance is a great element to success that develops Gilgamesh’s character through his journey to search for immortality. Throughout the tablet there is a repetition of, “Why are your cheeks emaciated, your expression desolate!/ Why is your heart so wretched, your

features so haggard!/ Why is there such sadness deep within you!/ Why do you look like one who has been traveling a long distance/ so that ice and heat have seared your face!/ Why… you roam the wilderness” (Gilgamesh X.54)! Here perseverance is characterizing Gilgamesh being a strong and supreme king that should not be tired, but he will forge ahead no matter what stands in his way. This repetition goes on while Gilgamesh is on his way to seek immortality. The tablet uses this form of repetition to draw the attention to this particular theme of characterizing Gilgamesh. Even though these phrases are repeated three times in Tablet X by the tavern keeper, Urshanabi, and Utanapishtim it is still the emphasizing the development of Gilgamesh character of being perseverance.
As this development of character continues in Tablet X, Gilgamesh is persistent to move forward on his journey to find immortality. In this tablet it keeps showing signs of how no matter how tired and worn out Gilgamesh is, he keeps insisting on knowing the way to Utanapishtim. You are able to notice this when he is speaking to the tavern keeper, asking her, “What are its markers? Give them to me! Give me the markers!/ If possible, I will cross the sea;/ if not, I will roam through the wilderness” (X.55). Gilgamesh is being characterized as perseverance because it is being said that if he can cross the see, he will if not he will find another way. It keeps telling the reader that he will continue to try and do anything even though how difficult it is if the tavern keeper doesn’t do what it is asked of. The tavern keeper goes on and explains to Gilgamesh how difficult it is for anyone to cross the Waters of Death, and leads him to the Urshanabi. By seeing that Gilgamesh goes on and heads to Urshanabi, clearly states that he once again no matter how hard he continues to repeat his behavior on the situation.
After Gilgamesh convinces Urshanabi to let him know the way to Utanapishtim, Tablet X continues to use Gilgamesh actions to develop his character.

Gilgamesh is told to take his axe in his hand and go down the woods to cut down 300 punting poles each 60 cubits in length (X.58). Here as soon as Gilgamesh is being aware of what to do to prepare, Tablet X makes Gilgamesh take action and do what he is told without hesitation. Then after that it explains how Gilgamesh and Urshanabi sail away and arrive at the Waters of death. There is a point where Urshanabi says to Gilgamesh, “Hold back, Gilgamesh, take a punting pole,/ But your hand must not pass over the Waters of Death …!/ Take a second, Gilgamesh, a third, and a fourth pole,/ Take a fifth, Gilgamesh, a sixth, and a seventh pole,/ take an eighth, Gilgamesh, a ninth, and a tenth pole,/ take an eleventh, Gilgamesh, and a twelfth pole (X.58)! After it shows that Gilgamesh has ran out of poles he continues to take action and utilizes his clothes as a sail held it up with his strong arms. Tablet X express here that Gilgamesh does not give up once again and continues to take any sort of action to compete the journey he is intended to

achieve.
In conclusion, Tablet X shows how Gilgamesh continue to be faced with challenges and obstacles. In the beginning of the tablet even though he is made to seem that he is going through a hard time with the passing of his friend Enkidu, it eventually shows how his character is being build up with the repetition and actions through his journey to immortality.