Women In Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh and The Depiction of Females The tale of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamia poem that is considered to be the oldest surviving piece of literature. It is an epic tale about a demigod known as Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and his close friend, Enkidu, a wild man who was originally created by the gods to fight against Gilgamesh and to stop him from mistreating the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are depicted as strong and powerful male characters who go on epic journeys, face great battles, and suffer great hardships. Their epic tale and characteristics can be seen as in-depth and admirable, and this creates an interesting tale to be read, but the tale is mainly male-centric and the females depicted in it, are hard to find admirable

Shamet is a temple prostitute and she is used as a plot device to improve Enkidu’s character. However, she, unlike the male characters, does not get to improve Enkidu’s character through talking, or through great battles, but through what most females characters of any tale get stuck with, the art of seduction. Seduction, in its own right, is a form of “power,” but that is the only “power” that Shamet is depicted as having and it is not entirely in her control. In the part of the tale where Shamet’s character starts to come into play, she is told, “‘That is Enkidu, Shamhat, show him your breasts, show him your beauty….Show him your body’” (13). She is successful in seducing Enkidu and taming his wild side, but she had no choice in the matter. She was told what to do and who to lie with. She does, however, serve more of a purpose a little further on when she helps Enkidu to the city of Uruk to see Gilgamesh, but she is shortly forgotten afterward and receives only a short mention from Enkidu later in the tale when he is close to death. His mention ends in a blessing for her, but at first was a vile curse where he says things like, “‘May all men curse and revile you and turn away’” (36). He is quick to judge her for his sufferings and this shows his lack of appreciation for her. She is depicted as no better

Ishtar is depicted as being a selfish and cruel goddess who throws tantrums if she does not get what she wants. Near the start of tablet VI, Ishtar shows her lack of admirable qualities when she is seen yearning for Gilgamesh to become her lover. Along with a flurry of other statements, she says, “‘Give me the seed of your body, give me your semen; plant your seed in the body of Ishtar’” (28). Even Gilgamesh, who was similar to Ishtar in his early days, finds her repulsive and wants nothing to do with her. Gilgamesh replies by telling her that, “‘I have nothing to give to her who lacks nothing at all’” (28), and then goes on to insult her multiple times. Saying such phrases as, “‘You are the door through which the cold gets in’” (28). Being enraged by Gilgamesh, Ishtar wishes to have him killed and releases the Bull of Heaven. This action eventually plays a part in the death of Enkidu pushing the plot further, but ultimately Ishtar’s plan to end Gilgamesh fails and she is left to mourn her losses. Ishtar character and actions leave behind nothing but distaste and a lasting opinion that she was an ugly and bitter female who is far from being an admirable