Death and Immortality in The Epic of Gilgamesh

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Death and Immortality in The Epic of Gilgamesh

The search for immortality has been a major concern for many men and

women all throughout history. True love and immortality in life would

be a dream come true to many. To spend time with a special someone,

the person one feels closest to, and never have to say good-bye would

greatly appeal to most people. But when death steps into the picture,

even with all the pain and devastation, one starts to re-evaluate

themselves. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh explores the

possibility of immortality following the saddening death of his friend

and brother, Enkidu. Gilgamesh, feeling the fear of his own mortality,

sets out on a journey to search for a way to preserve himself.

Although the journey that he endures is much larger than life,

Gilgamesh comes to realize that he can never achieve immortality.

Before the creation of Enkidu, Gilgamesh is a man without an

equal match. He is an individual with overwhelming power, and it is

because of this that makes Gilgamesh a very arrogant person. This

arrogant side of him is accompanied by an extensive abuse of power,

which leads to injustice and rage in the city of Uruk: “The young men

of Uruk he harries without warrant”. This problem does not bother

Gilgamesh; he lives to display to others his royal power. The first

sign of change in Gilgamesh occurs after the birth of Enkidu.

Gilgamesh’s mother, Ninsun, said to him, “Like a wife you’ll love him,

caress and embrace him, he will be mighty, and often save you”.

Gilgamesh has finally found his match, a friend who will serve as his

life long companion. This new seal of friendship will cause a chang...

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...nsciousness after death, or maybe a combination of both, which

creates this fear. The fear felt is undoubtedly universal. However,

the ways in which it is dealt with are varied and diverse. The concept

of human mortality and how it is dealt with is dependent upon one’s

society or culture. It is the society, which has the greatest impact

on an individual’s beliefs. Hence, it is also possible for other

cultures to influence the people of a different culture on such

comprehensions.

The irony of the story is that Gilgamesh, who wanted to enjoy

immortality, actually achieves his dream. Thousands of years after his

death, he and Enkidu live through the story of their adventures, which

has been passed down through time. Gilgamesh and Enkidu will be kept

in an immortal state for however long The Epic of Gilgamesh is told.

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