Change In The Epic Poem 'The Epic Of Gilgamesh'
Patrick Colven
Dr. Racker
Mosaic: Humanities Seminar 1
17 September 2014 In The Epic of Gilgamesh, a partly recollected epic poem about the journey of Uruk’s King, Gilgamesh is forced to fuck confront his fear of death, question his choices and morality, and re-evaluate his own character. Given that he sleeps with newlywed women (Tablet II, Column P, 161) and kills Humbaba only to show his prowess and leave a legacy (Tablet V, Column V, 245), I am very hesitant to even call Gilgamesh a hero at the start. Nevertheless he has moments of self-development and turns himself around by the end of the poem. Enkidu and Humbaba serve to show Gilgamesh his own shortcomings and prime the process of change. The three represent the archetypical struggle …show more content…
After analysis of these three characters, I concluded that Gilgamesh’s “journey” was not whatever he could do to prove his strength, seek immortality, or leave a legacy, but was in reality a journey of …show more content…
It’s not clear how this could happen originally, but as the story unfolds it seems as if this three-part composition is referring to Gilgamesh’s character as he struggles with his mortal fate. Enkidu, who begins his literary life as Gilgamesh’s faithful sidekick, respectfully challenges some of Gilgamesh’s decisions. It is Enkidu who tells Gilgamesh not to rape the newlywed women. After sleeping with Shamhat and undergoing transference into manhood, Enkidu began developing a loyal relationship with Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh instills trust in Enkidu (Tablet 2, Column II, 240) to be his companion in the Forest of Cedars, to slay the mighty Humbaba. At first Enkidu is uneasy, claiming he knew Humbaba and suggested it was an unwinnable battle. Also that, “Enlil made it his [Humbaba’s] lot to terrify man”(Tablet II, Column II, 285) and to keep safe the cedar trees that surround the secret lair of the gods. Later Humbaba begs Gilgamesh to spare his life, and it is Enkidu who pushes the choice to kill him. Enkidu is representative of both Gilgamesh’s ample courage, and his potential as a just leader of Uruk. Enkidu wins the trust of Gilgamesh with friendship and loyalty rather then force. He was created literally to counterbalance Gilgamesh, and he ends up befriending him and beginning Gilgamesh’s journey to
Dr. Racker
Mosaic: Humanities Seminar 1
17 September 2014 In The Epic of Gilgamesh, a partly recollected epic poem about the journey of Uruk’s King, Gilgamesh is forced to fuck confront his fear of death, question his choices and morality, and re-evaluate his own character. Given that he sleeps with newlywed women (Tablet II, Column P, 161) and kills Humbaba only to show his prowess and leave a legacy (Tablet V, Column V, 245), I am very hesitant to even call Gilgamesh a hero at the start. Nevertheless he has moments of self-development and turns himself around by the end of the poem. Enkidu and Humbaba serve to show Gilgamesh his own shortcomings and prime the process of change. The three represent the archetypical struggle …show more content…
After analysis of these three characters, I concluded that Gilgamesh’s “journey” was not whatever he could do to prove his strength, seek immortality, or leave a legacy, but was in reality a journey of …show more content…
It’s not clear how this could happen originally, but as the story unfolds it seems as if this three-part composition is referring to Gilgamesh’s character as he struggles with his mortal fate. Enkidu, who begins his literary life as Gilgamesh’s faithful sidekick, respectfully challenges some of Gilgamesh’s decisions. It is Enkidu who tells Gilgamesh not to rape the newlywed women. After sleeping with Shamhat and undergoing transference into manhood, Enkidu began developing a loyal relationship with Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh instills trust in Enkidu (Tablet 2, Column II, 240) to be his companion in the Forest of Cedars, to slay the mighty Humbaba. At first Enkidu is uneasy, claiming he knew Humbaba and suggested it was an unwinnable battle. Also that, “Enlil made it his [Humbaba’s] lot to terrify man”(Tablet II, Column II, 285) and to keep safe the cedar trees that surround the secret lair of the gods. Later Humbaba begs Gilgamesh to spare his life, and it is Enkidu who pushes the choice to kill him. Enkidu is representative of both Gilgamesh’s ample courage, and his potential as a just leader of Uruk. Enkidu wins the trust of Gilgamesh with friendship and loyalty rather then force. He was created literally to counterbalance Gilgamesh, and he ends up befriending him and beginning Gilgamesh’s journey to