Preview

Enkidu As The Ruler In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
124 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Enkidu As The Ruler In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
In the epic poem Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is the ruler of Uruk, In the beginning of the epic, he really isn’t seen as a hero because he treated his people cruelly. Gilgamesh was part God and part man which made his power was unmatched on Earth. The gods created Enkidu to match Gilgamesh's strength. When Enkidu came to Earth, he lived in the wild and acted like a wild beast. Shamhat, a temple prostitute, was sent to seduce Enkidu. After sleeping with Shamhat, Enkidu no longer acted like a wild beast and he became civilized. Sleeping with Shamhat eventually led Enkidu to his downfall and death. Although Enkidu's action led to his death, it was necessary in order for Gilgamesh to become a better

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The journey that Gilgamesh took after Enkidu died was a turning point of his life. The reason it was so meaningful to Gilgamesh and the story was because it showed Gilgamesh and the readers reading the book, that no one life has immortally. Gilgamesh was very distraught and he set on a journey to seek immortally for himself. “…did bitterly weep as he wandered the wild…” (Gilgamesh 70) Gilgamesh thought that he was immortal but seeing could what happen to Enkidu he could not let that happen to himself also, because he was afraid of death and what would become of him. His journey is to find Uta-napishti, who has immortally. Then, when Gilgamesh meets Uta-napishti, Uta-napishti ask why Gilgamesh is so down in the dumps, telling him how he was…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gilgamesh was a strong and authoritative king of a kingdom called Uruk. Gilgamesh had power over all the women in the kingdom. Because of Gilgamesh authoritative nature, he refused to adhere to the rules of the society or community (page 11). Due to his ruthless behavior, the people of Uruk were unhappy and depressed. The people then prayed to their gods to punish Gilgamesh. This made the gods restrain Gilgamesh by bringing Enkidu who is also as strong as Gilgamesh.…

    • 241 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Enkidu Vs Gilgamesh

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Page

    Even though both Gilgamesh and Enkidu display feminine behaviors they appear to start acting like normal men again. Shamhat the harlot is a character who is responsible to get Enkidu into appear more like a human and less like an animal through sexual intercourse. This was done by Gilgamesh himself to make Enkidu be just like him a human. What most noticeable about this is that the only time in the epic were the gender behaviors and reactions were normal meaning Enkidu acted just like a man and Shamhat acted like a woman. We are told of the process of when the two began to act like how normal relationships are supposed to be in an epic:…

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gilgamesh tyrannically terrorizes the people of Uruk over which he rules. "when the people of Uruk complain about Gilgamesh's arrogance, the goddess aruru creates enkidu to contend with the king and absorb his energies." (heading for the battle with Humbaba). So, this guy oppresses his people into fearful prayer, yet through those prayers a savior comes to the occupants of Uruk. Enkidu ends up being friends with Gilgamesh and they purge the land of several evils. Eventually Enkidu dies and strikes fear into the heart of Gilgamesh. "how can I rest, how can I be at peace? Despair is in my heart. What my brother is now that shall I be when I am dead. Because I am afraid of death I will go as best I can to find Utnapishtim whom they call the faraway, for he has entered the assembly of the gods." (ll. 4-10 of The Search For Everlasting Life). The selfishness of this man to think that he deserves to be immortal. He eventually fails in his quest and…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “"Come now, Harlot, I am going to decree your fate, a fate that will never come to an end for eternity! I will curse you with a Great Curse… may a crossroad be your home, may a wasteland be your sleeping place…” In the Epic of Gilgamesh, having crossed paths with Gilgamesh and his harlot, the life of our character, Enkidu, was turned to a wasteland. Enkidu lived freely. He ate with gazelles and drank with lions in a manner uncomplicated by pursuit or expectation. Unbeknownst to Enkidu, however, his life was never his own. He was created as a parallel to Gilgamesh, imparted with power meant to foil the rule exercised by the king without parry, “Let him be equal to [Gilgamesh’s] stormy heart, let them be a match for each other so that Uruk may find peace!”.…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Enkidu & Gilgamesh

    • 1000 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is about a Tyrant, Gilgamesh, who terrorized the people from his kingdom. Enkidu was created to save the people and become a companion to Gilgamesh. From the beginning, a clear and invisible bond is created. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are complete opposites that complement each other; one was an arrogant city dweller, the other a quintessential "Wildman" of the woods and plains. Gilgamesh civilizes Enkidu and Enkidu helps Gilgamesh transform into a perfect leader to his people by allowing him to better understand and identify with them. Through their friendship, Gilgamesh becomes less narcissistic and less lonesome. Gilgamesh was lonely, but did not know the extent of wanting a friend, until the moment he meets Enkidu and then loses him afterwards in the Epic. The turning point of The Epic of Gilgamesh occurs when Enkidu enters Gilgamesh’s life, and then the text takes another turn when Enkidu dies. Enkidu changed Gilgamesh’s life completely, without him, Gilgamesh would not have become a great leader and epic hero. Gilgamesh would not have changed without Enkidu because he did not see a problem with his leadership skills, he had never loved anyone more than himself, and he had not expected death to affect him on a personal level.…

    • 1000 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, city of Mesapotamia, and semi-mortal: part human and part god. His arrogance overcame the inability to respect the people of Uruk. He did whatever he wanted to and oppressed them and suffered on his tyranny. Gilgamesh not only violated but also at times, followed the important values of the people of this time. For instance, on page 17, Shamat is talking to Enkidu and explains how Gilgamesh “Is destined for both joy and grief.” His city is a reflection of him; they too have joy and grief because of him. The other Gods, Sun, Earth, Water and Wisdom love Gilgamesh, and Shamat explain to Enkidu how Gilgamesh is destined to be a powerful king. He takes advantage of the people and the people plead to the gods for a new leader sending Enkidu. Although, Gilgamesh is cruel to the people, he actually cares for Enkidu and mourns for his death. He is faithful to Enkidu and loves…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The town of Uruk gets very frustrated with Gilgamesh and that is how Enkidu is born. The people wanted the Gods to “create his equal; let it be as like him as his own reflection, his second self, stormy heart for stormy heart” (62). This shows us that Enkidu was made specifically to rationalize with Gilgamesh and to make him more of a humble man. In the first chapter, we see that Enkidu literally “stood in the street and blocked the way” (69) of Gilgamesh and a new bride. When Enkidu explains himself and rationalizes with Gilgamesh on not sleeping with the bride, their “friendship was sealed” (69). When Ishtar tries to marry Gilgamesh, we can see how the friendship with Enkidu has influenced his limitation to become more rational about sleeping with woman. “How would it go with me?”(86) Gilgamesh asks Ishtar. He doesn’t see why Ishtar would want to marry him while she has all of these men that she sleeps with and then abandons. “Which of your lovers did you ever love forever?” (86) He asks her again. We notice that Gilgamesh is now level headed with the idea of not sleeping with every woman he sees. The whole journey that Gilgamesh and Enkidu experience in this Epic shows how Gilgamesh has changed from being an arrogant, cheating man to a more rational, humble and charitable man. This is all thanks to the advice and opinions…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Upon finishing the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, i believe most people would have some strong feelings about the former king of Uruk. Although the majority of those feelings may include regurgitation, anger, and despise; I on the other hand would like to argue why Gilgamesh was a good guy. Of course Gilgamesh had his flaws, but if you could look past the senseless raping of his own women and the constant fear he placed in the hearts of his own people on a daily basis, Gilgamesh is a relatively stand-up Demigod. It appears to me that Gilgamesh took on the responsibility of being king before he was mature enough to do so. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and if it weren't for Enkidu meeting Gilgamesh, maybe Gilgamesh never would have matured enough to gain the gratitude and praise of his people. Becoming immortal was ultimately what…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Enkidu Vs Gilgamesh

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gilgamesh and Enkidu learn all too well that the gods are dangerous for mortals.There are many obstacles that these men endure during their journey. One of the many differences between Gilgamesh and Enkidu would be When the temple prostitute seduces Enkidu, he loses his animal attributes but gains his self-consciousness and his humanity. The theirs Gilgamesh; who has no afterlife to look forward to and no moral ideal to aspire to. Although he may not know, really Gilgamesh’s many journeys mirror his internal journey to become a selfless and devoted king. Sadly along this journey Gilgamesh looses Enkidu andgrieves heavily over the loss, and made a decision to find the key to everlasting life. The loss of a great friend and the thought of mortality were to much for Gilgamesh to bear. He tried hard to understand why one would both to stay on earth to end up in a terrible afterlife. He soon tried to become immortal like the…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the story Gilgamesh, there are many different things that go on and different fascinating events. The people, events, and even the animals are very different and interesting to many people. In this story there is a main character named Gilgamesh and his friend named Enkidu. I think that Enkidu is very good at taking care of business and being the role model in this story. Therefor, I think that Enkidu is the more Heroic character in this story.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gilgamesh As A Hero Essay

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The people in Uruk began to pray to the Gods for help. The Gods created a worthy match specifically for Gilgamesh. His name was Enkidu and he was a wild man. Enkidu sleeps with a woman causing his fellow animals to start rejecting him since he’s no longer considered an animal. After that he is told about Gilgamesh and his rulings.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Epic of Gilgamesh

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is a third person journey about a man’s change from bad to good because of a character named Enkidu. Gilgamesh starts out a mean spirited, bitter, tyrant-like man and turns to a good humble like hero. Throughout the story different experiences and journeys lead Gilgamesh to this ending. On page 99, lines 2-50 Gilgamesh comes off as a cocky and selfish young king. In a way Gilgamesh cannot help but to be the selfish king that he is because, he came into this personality due to his upbringing and surroundings and his overall being. Gilgamesh is the handsomest, strongest, and most powerful man in the world. He also is two thirds god and his father was the king before him.…

    • 857 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gilgamesh and Enkidu became friends in a very strange way, but I guess back then it was normal. To see someone being honor at, rather than oneself drove Gilgamesh mad. Gilgamesh was king and everyone should praise him, but along came Enkidu who was given a special treatment, and that brought displeasure to Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was the first one to attack and they ended up in a crazy physical fight, breaking things left and right. They hit each other till they were exhausted and with a last look in one another's eyes, they start laughing it off leading to the beginning of the new friendship. Immediately after becoming friends they set off to the forest of Humbaba.…

    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A hero story by definition “Informs the reader that a hero is setting out from an everyday home to pursue an adventure where he defeats a shadowy presence, enters death, pass tests and receives aid, after gaining a reward the hero returns home transformed.” Gilgamesh portrays a very astute, handsome and masculine mortal, which at the beginning of his story is a greedy dictator that takes for his own pleasure regardless of who he offends. After becoming friends with Enkidu, who was sent to originally stop his evil wrongdoings, Gilgamesh started showing the characteristics that corresponded to an epic hero. He started doing worthy actions that involved him conquering Humbaba and vanquishing the Bull of Heaven, these acts began making him seem more immortal. Gilgamesh began accomplishing treacherous journeys; such as when he and Enkidu built a raft and sailed back to Uruk and when they battled the Bull of Heaven after he rejected the oncoming’s of Ishtrake. He went into the underworld to find Enkidu after he was sent to…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays