The Symbols Of Friendship And Death In Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh’s journey caused him to mature emotionally and benefit the People of Uruk and himself. Gilgamesh was a tyrannical ruler of Uruk. An example of this is when he would sleep with brides of men right before they became married. Soon all of his mean spirited practices would stop when he meets Enkidu. Enkidu was an animal-man who lived in the forest. Enkidu would destroy all of the animal traps. Therefore, Gilgamesh ordered that he be brought to the city and sent a prostitute to convince him to come back. The prostitute was successful and caused Enkidu to become more human and to go to Uruk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu then fight and find themselves equal. Enkidu was now his new-found best friend. Enkidu was against what he did to his people.

(Gilgamesh 71)” Gilgamesh's grief for his friend was natural, but he shouldn't have abandoned his people and his royal duties. As ruler, his people have to follow his decree, and need his support to thrive. By forcing them to grief, and abandoning his position, he left them in a very vulnerable position. His last and final abandonment of his people began with Gilgamesh's quest for immortality. He was so upset and shocked by what occurred to Enkidu's body after death, that he vowed he would never die. His selfishness has grown so far, that when he finds his cure for mortality, he chooses to let an old man test the plant in case it brings death instead. “I will bring it to Uruk-Haven, and have an old man eat the plant to test it. The plant's name is “The Old Man Becomes a Young Man.” Then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth. (Gilgamesh 106)” Gilgamesh was a powerful man with a lot of ambition, and potential. It was just ruined by his selfish nature. He was, all-in-all, a famous and great ruler... but not a just one.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu form a wonderful brotherly relationship with one another. And they mirror one another in many ways. Both men are alike in the sense they need to be tamed in order to rule over, or to coexist with civilized people. Enkidu is tamed by the prostitute Shemat and in return will tame Gilgamesh. The way the Gods created them, they are individuals with immense physical abilities. However even though they have similarities, they also have differences, as friends normally do. Gilgamesh is a man of noble stature living having lived his life amongst civilization. Enkidu is a wild man raised by animals and lives the way they do. The Gods created both men to be amazing in stature. Both are powerful but Enkidu’s power is derived by his strength. Whereas Gilgamesh has both strength and knowledge from growing up in civilization. He is also the boldest

Because of his pride, he does not listen, which is one of his biggest flaws in the story. Furthermore, you can see Gilgamesh’s perseverance when he finds out that the outcome of his journey is not favorable, but he still continues to go after praying to Shamash (26). This shows that he would always continue with what he started and that he was not one to give up on what he says he is going to do. His loyalty to his friend, Enkidu, is also very obvious, especially after Enkidu passed away, when Gilgamesh “Slaughtered fatted [cattle] and sheep, heaped them high for his friend” (62). This shows that Gilgamesh really enjoyed and appreciated Enkidu as a friend, and even after his death, he did everything possible to make sure that he was recognized and respected. But, after his death, Gilgamesh still showed his flaw of being self-righteous because he felt that he deserved eternal life because he was part god. For instance, he stated, “Enkidu, my friend whom I loved, is turned into clay! Shall I too not lie down like him, and never get up forever and ever?” (78). The idea of death really hit him after Enkidu because he realized that death is inevitable, no matter how prideful you are or how much you achieve, it is still going to happen. Gilgamesh definitely had too many heroic qualities that were

Gilgamesh struggled to establish moral principle. His personality at first was an arrogant, self-centered tyrant ; he was described by Enkidu "His teeth are dragon's fangs, his countenance is like a lion his charge is the rushing of the flood..." (pg. 16 line 3-6). But towards the end of this epic narrative Gilgamesh switched

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu helps act as a catalyst for the transformation of Gilgamesh’s character from an undefeatable god-like brute into a complex thinker. In the eyes of Gilgamesh, he is unstoppable and is willing to challenge death itself so long as he is remembered as a hero by his subjects. With Enkidu’s help, Gilgamesh learns to become a better person as a ruler, not as a better warrior. Although not blood related, Enkidu was like a brother to Gilgamesh and the duo shared an inseparable bond. Throughout the epic, Enkidu teaches Gilgamesh that he is not unstoppable, being stubborn will not stop him from dying, and that there are no easy solutions to life.

Gilgamesh laments for Enkidu because he is melancholy. “Hear me great ones of Uruk I weep for Enkidu my friend Bitterly moaning like a woman mourning I weep for my brother” (30). This is the turning point at which Gilgamesh has changed because of Enkidu. Gilgamesh would have not cared previously, but Enkidu had become a major part of his life.

men, hear me! Hear me, O elders of teeming Uruk, hear me! I shall weep

Some people would describe their best friend as their soul mate because they are so much alike, and they have a way of bringing out the best in each other. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the friendship between Gilgamesh, the king, and Enkidu, the wild man who has been tamed into humanity, brings out new qualities in both men. Enkidu was created for no other reason than to balance out Gilgamesh, to give him a friend. Enkidu was created to be, “equal to Gilgamesh’s stormy heart”.

“They broke the doorposts and the walls shook, they snorted like bulls locked together...” They seemed to be equal in strength and this peaks Gilgamesh’s interest in Enkidu and even though Enkidu is bested by Gilgamesh he praises him. “ ‘There is not another like you in the world.’” Enkidu shows Gilgamesh a praise and love he never really received and when he has Gilgamesh puts Enkidu’s words before everyone. The love that the two share drastically changes Gilgamesh’s character. For example, when Gilgamesh sets out on a quest to kill Humbaba and succeeds in wounding the guardian of the forest Enkidu pushes Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba even though Gil shows

Death is a very large theme in the "The Epic of Gilgamesh." Being that this epic largely represented the Sumerian and Mesopotamians idea I believe the feeling of Gilgamesh himself on death and it 's aftermath would be very much the same for most of the society in the time that it was written. Gilgamesh was largely afraid of dying and did everything he could to avoid this inevitable fate.

Enkidu’s devotion to Gilgamesh is shown in their battles with both Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. By partaking in these battles with Gilgamesh, Enkidu is expressing his friendship. The conquests aren’t his idea, and he

This story additionally motivates individuals to consider life and passing. At first Gilgamesh is not apprehensive of biting the dust and prods Enkidu for his tears previously they go to Cedar Forest. "We are not divine beings, we can't rise to paradise. No we are mortal men. Just the divine beings live until the end of time. Ourdays are numbered, and whatever we accomplish is a puff of wind". In any case, once Gilgamesh is confronted

The second significant change in Gilgamesh was caused by the loss of his brotherly companion, Enkidu. Gilgamesh couldn't bear the loss of a love so powerful. Despite his astonishing power and leadership, something in his life was missing. He wept for seven days and seven nights, in hope of bringing Enkidu back to him. Gilgamesh said, "I thought my friend would come back because of my weeping. Since he went, my life is nothing". It is in this stage of the epic that we see the truly sympathetic and compassionate side of Gilgamesh. The grief in his heart had far surpassed the magnificent pride that he had previously displayed so boldly.

The harsh death of his friend caused him to fear the passing of his own life. Gilgamesh was