Critiquing Gilgamesh
Jase Romine
Professor Ezell
Comp II
March 6, 2014
The Critiquing I am doing is an article called “The separation of wild animal nature and human nature in Gilgamesh: Roots of a contemporary theme” by the author of the name Patrick Barron. His thesis is “Examining the literary theme and mechanics of the separation of wild animals and humans reveals greater implications, including the desire to leave civilization and return to the wild, human attempts to reconcile the loss of contact with wild animal nature, and potentially destructive and tragic after effects.” The points I am trying to make in critiquing this article are the different relationships of human vs. nature in other stories and in Gilgamesh, how human and nature affect …show more content…
Gilgamesh represents civilization and humanity and Enkidu represent nature and wildlife. Together they fight and kill the protector of the cedar forest his name is Humbaba. In doing this it shows how Enkidu goes against his ways of nature and of being an animal like being and this is what starts his downfall. They also kill the bull of heaven together and it makes the Gods mad and he dies at the hands of the Gods. This leaves his friend Gilgamesh very sad and he takes fault for his death. He ends up going half crazy and is left to wonder and searching in vain for a way to bring his best friend back to life. This just goes to show you that Gilgamesh to Enkidu under his wing and taught him the ways of the world and of civilization and it led to Enkidu’s death and demise. He went way from being one with nature and animals. He in some sense lost his innocent and purity to the way of man and it was his down fall. It paints a picture for me as in a way the nature is pure and good and one within itself and then man comes along with his new ways and different ideas and views on the world. Humans start to interact with nature and it destroys nature and takes away its purity. Humans find a way to use nature in such away it’s like turning it against itself. When Gilgamesh cuts down all the trees just for the glory is a key point to me in how man just uses and takes things from nature. This story just goes to show us how humans and nature affects each other and all kinds of different
Professor Ezell
Comp II
March 6, 2014
The Critiquing I am doing is an article called “The separation of wild animal nature and human nature in Gilgamesh: Roots of a contemporary theme” by the author of the name Patrick Barron. His thesis is “Examining the literary theme and mechanics of the separation of wild animals and humans reveals greater implications, including the desire to leave civilization and return to the wild, human attempts to reconcile the loss of contact with wild animal nature, and potentially destructive and tragic after effects.” The points I am trying to make in critiquing this article are the different relationships of human vs. nature in other stories and in Gilgamesh, how human and nature affect …show more content…
Gilgamesh represents civilization and humanity and Enkidu represent nature and wildlife. Together they fight and kill the protector of the cedar forest his name is Humbaba. In doing this it shows how Enkidu goes against his ways of nature and of being an animal like being and this is what starts his downfall. They also kill the bull of heaven together and it makes the Gods mad and he dies at the hands of the Gods. This leaves his friend Gilgamesh very sad and he takes fault for his death. He ends up going half crazy and is left to wonder and searching in vain for a way to bring his best friend back to life. This just goes to show you that Gilgamesh to Enkidu under his wing and taught him the ways of the world and of civilization and it led to Enkidu’s death and demise. He went way from being one with nature and animals. He in some sense lost his innocent and purity to the way of man and it was his down fall. It paints a picture for me as in a way the nature is pure and good and one within itself and then man comes along with his new ways and different ideas and views on the world. Humans start to interact with nature and it destroys nature and takes away its purity. Humans find a way to use nature in such away it’s like turning it against itself. When Gilgamesh cuts down all the trees just for the glory is a key point to me in how man just uses and takes things from nature. This story just goes to show us how humans and nature affects each other and all kinds of different