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

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