What Is Gilgamesh's Quest

This epic poem was originally found in the Sumerian language, written down with cuneiform characters on clay tablets found at Nippúr in Mesopotamia and dating back to around 2,000 BC. The author of the version we have today is unknown because the story was crafted and reworked by various Mesopotamian cultures. The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a man, two-thirds god and one-third human. After the gods take his friend, Enkidu, Gilgamesh begins a quest to gain immortality. On his journey he meets Utnapishtim, a man who obeys the gods and was saved by them from the Great Flood. Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh many tests, which he all fails. He then is eventually sent away by Utnapishtim. Gilgamesh realizes he must face his mortality and find
He wants to conquer the impossible task of immortality, which no one has done before. Gilgamesh’s need for power starts out much smaller. Being the King of Uruk he is entitled to some power but instead of being a good, humble king he inflicts power in miserable ways. When Gilgamesh becomes friends with Enkidu, his need for power seems to increase. The two of them set of to find Humbaba the guard of the Cedar Forest, and kill him for his wood. ”Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death. Enil made him guardian of the Cedar Forest, to frighten off the mortal who would venture there. But who would venture there? Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar is the floodwater; he breathes and there is death”(71). After hearing this description of Humbaba, many people would turn the other way and abort their desire to fulfill this mission. However, this only seems to motivate Gilgamesh even more. His ambition to find this beast and kill him was simply just another attempt to display his power. This same power he puts towards his quest for
Every human, weather they admit it or not, fears death at some point in their life. After his beloved friend Enkidu died, Gilgamesh does not want the same fate. He becomes very depressed and completely renovates his life. This causes Gilgamesh to begin to question his purpose of living. Since he is two-thirds god, Gilgamesh already possesses the strength of the gods. He decides that the only thing separating him from the god is their immortality and his ability to perish. Gilgamesh finally begins his quest for ever-lasting life. It is a long, hard journey and despite all his efforts Gilgamesh fails. He is unable to achieve immortality. When he comes across a magical garden Gilgamesh is given some very good advice. “As for you, Gilgamesh let your belly be full, Make merry day and night. Of each day make a feast of rejoicing. Day and night dance and play! Let your garments be sparkling fresh, your head be washed; bathe in water. Pay heed to a little one that holds on to your hand, Let a spouse delight in your bosom.” (102) This was said by Siduri, the wine maker of the gods. She helps Gilgamesh see that he shouldn’t worry about being immortal but he should just embrace what he has and live his