Enkidu's Manhood

The Epic of Gilgamesh emphasizes throughout its workings the value of manhood. To be a man at this time means that one is a respected and useful member of society. Manhood and its related qualities were greatly value and revered throughout the culture. Therefore, the elusive quality of manhood must be strived for at all times in order for one to become a hero of that time. The descriptive passage alludes to the qualities of manhood and the weight that this carries. Man and beast is a binary presented through this passage. The descriptive language utilized polarizes the qualities of animal and man. The animals are defined as wild and beast-like whereas man is filled with a great wisdom and therefore a sense of culture (“Gilgamesh”, 5). Originally, the epic hero Enkidu was categorized as more of an animal than man. However, his transition to manhood occurs when he laid with the priestess. By behaving in an act of the body, he unknowingly embraces his own manhood and forsakes his beast-like self. Whereas before, he lived freely with the wild beasts he was now unable to
Once Enkidu becomes a man by laying with a woman, he is unable to return to his previous life. Whereas he was once free to run with the animals, now “his body was bound as though with a cord” (“Gilgamesh”, 5). He was unable to return to his previous life due to the restrictions of manhood and society. Likewise, the young men of that time would have been unable to return to their wild and carefree childhoods once they transitioned into becoming a man. To further emphasize Enkidu’s transition into manhood, he has “grown weak, for wisdom was in him” (“Gilgamesh”, 5). This also alludes to the loss of strength as one continued to age. As one progresses into adulthood, they lose their swiftness and their strength. In exchange for this loss of physical prowess, however, one may grow in knowledge and