Epic of Gilgamesh, Essay Example

Gilgamesh was a mesopotamian hero, thought to be perhaps the first in history. The literature associated with Gilgamesh is the first historical example of an epic poem that can be attributed to a single source.  This work dates back to around the 2000 B.C. in Sumeria, where it is believed that the historical figure of gilgamesh acutally reigned in the country of Uruk for a time. The poem, as it is known in its modern form, is believed to be a collection of older stories that were gathered and codified into the single unifed story that was discovered on Babylonian tablets dating from around two hundred years later.

The complex character of Gilgamesh is represented by the  changes that he undergoes throughout the epic.  These changes are representative of the larger archetypal journey that all people encounter throughout their lives.  In this sense, the story of Gilgamesh is a reflection of the psychological aspects of life that people deal with, such as death, duty, and morality. The changes that Gilgamesh goes through throughout the epic are important in that they create an “evlolution” of his character.  At the beginning of the tale he is nothing like the leader that history remembers him as. At the start, he is actually not a very good person.  In fact, he could probably be considered a villian.

However, his character is essentially changed when he is confronted by Enkidu.  The wild Enkidu, built from clay by the Gods, is a stark contrast to the character of gilgamesh.  Enkidu was, in fact, created to be a rival for Gilgamesh.  “Enkidu ate grass in the hills with the gazelle and lurked with wild beasts at the water-holes; he had joy of the water with the herds of wild game.” (Gilgamesh)  While Gilgamesh would be considered civilized, Enkidu is more of a beast.

Enkidu, though, finds his way into human civilization, which ends with his confrontation of Gilgamesh.  This is the first change that Gilgamesh goes through. As his meeting with Enkidu leads him to a less immoral path the two become friends. It is the death of this friend that leads to the next important change in the character of Gilgamesh.“The eyes of Enkidu were full of tears and his heart was sick.” (Gilgamesh) The loss of Enkidu starts him on a path in search of immortality, which culminates in a transformation of his character to the king he is remembered as.

The search to escape death is an important change that drives him forward throughout the epic.  This drive continues until his ultimate meeting with Utnaphitism, which seems to provide him with some indspiration that causes the final evolution in his character. At this point, he becomes the wise ruler of legend, returning to his city to rule as an enlightened king. He seems now to be at peace with the order of the universe, as he speaks kindly of the Goddess Ishtar who was partly responsible for the death of his friend.

In this way, his “style” of heroism is rooted in the idea of the journey.  The heroism of Gilgamesh lies within his will to continue down his chosen path.  As his charater evolves into a wise king from a thug of sorts, he discovers the importance of being a strong leader for the sake of his people.  He realizes that in the end it is better to be a good ruler than a powerful dominating one. In this way, the heroism of Gilgamesh is based on his completion of the hero’s journey, or his quest to obtain enlightenment. The result of his quest is the attainment of enlightenment rather than eternal life.

Gilgamesh is a a hero in part due to his many adventures with Enkidu, as well as his ability to put their rivalry behind him and become friends with the man.  This is the typical hero’s journey.  The hero travels on adventures in order to achieve some end, and eventually returns home to realize that what he had there was all that he needed.  Furthermore, he is a hero because he faces increidible odds that seem impossible to overcome and succeeds in overcoming them.  The death of his friend and his feud with the gods is further representative of the tragic hero.  By overcoming these difficulties, Gilgamesh is able to grow as a character and ultimately achieves a higher potential than would have been possible otherwise.

Gilgamesh both demonstrates his humanity and his divinity throughout the epic.  His immoral character at the beginning of the poems displays his humanity.   His friendship with Enkidu, which not even the Gods seemed to have foreseen or to understand, represents this humanity as well. His arrogance was also representative of his humanity.  As a king, he took advantage of this position and eventually abandoned it.  His return to this position is the greatest representative of his humanity. The fact that he went through this change represents his imperfections, and the struggle throughout his life to overcome them in the pursuit of immortality.

His divinity can be seen in his strength and his ability to overcome the obstacles that are presented before him.  The fact that Ishtar falls in love with him expresses that he possesses some sense of being beyond the mortal realm.  The large feats that Gilgamesh is able to accomplish show how he is, in a way, beyond human.  “There was the garden of the gods; all round him stood bushes bearing gems.” (Gilgamesh)  While he may have fears such as death, aging, and the loss of friends, he is able to seek out, through his journey, answers to the questions that he has.

The effect that his changing or evolving character has on how we see him helps us to relate to him.  All people seek that sense of immortality.  By pursuing our potential, we are attempting to become more than what we are.  In this way, Gilgamesh represents how people journey through their lives in the pursuit of change.  Ultimately, the pursuit of self-fulfillment will result in the attainment of wisdom, a sense of understanding or belonging within the world and the sense that we are okay with the divine order.  “This too was the work of Gilgamesh, the king, who knew the countries of the world. He was wise„ he saw mysteries and knew secret things, he brought us a tale of the days before the flood.” (Gilgamesh)  This is what allows individuals to seek a higher potential.