Benjamin R. Foster's 'Epic Of Gilgamesh'
Gilgamesh is an epic poem and it is one of the earliest pieces of world literature. The epic of Gilgamesh is the greatest work of ancient Mesopotamia. There are several translations around the world, but the one that I came across with was translated by Benjamin R. Foster. Immortality was something king Gilgamesh always dreamt of, but a friendship was something he didn't have before. “ They kissed each other and made friends” (Ln 115). This text shows that it was just the beginning of a irreplaceable friendship between two different powerful men. This epic poem contains several themes such as the King Gilgamesh wanting immortality due to the things surrounding him. However, the theme that actually made king Gilgamesh to do such quest, was the
relationship he had with his friend Enkidu., Although Gilgamesh and Enkidu started on the wrong foot with a fight, they became good friends, even though it was Gilgamesh’s plan. Gilgamesh was the undefeatable type of king who didn't want anyone getting on the way, while Enkidu was made out of clay and destined to live in the wilderness for the purpose of becoming the new competition of the king. They became best friends to the point that they did everything together, including defeating their enemies, such as the “Bull of Heaven.” Consequently, Enkidu paid for it with his life. “I feared the battle but will die in my bed” (Ln 170). Once he died, Gilgamesh couldn’t let go of his friend’s body till worms started coming out of his nose, he wept and went on a journey trying to find immortality. Overall, the poem has many exceptional themes that evolve around the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu and it has an outstanding style of writing. The style consists of repetition and poetry, which makes it poetic. In this epic, relationships mean so much that it seemed like Gilgamesh loved Enkidu like a wife.
relationship he had with his friend Enkidu., Although Gilgamesh and Enkidu started on the wrong foot with a fight, they became good friends, even though it was Gilgamesh’s plan. Gilgamesh was the undefeatable type of king who didn't want anyone getting on the way, while Enkidu was made out of clay and destined to live in the wilderness for the purpose of becoming the new competition of the king. They became best friends to the point that they did everything together, including defeating their enemies, such as the “Bull of Heaven.” Consequently, Enkidu paid for it with his life. “I feared the battle but will die in my bed” (Ln 170). Once he died, Gilgamesh couldn’t let go of his friend’s body till worms started coming out of his nose, he wept and went on a journey trying to find immortality. Overall, the poem has many exceptional themes that evolve around the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu and it has an outstanding style of writing. The style consists of repetition and poetry, which makes it poetic. In this epic, relationships mean so much that it seemed like Gilgamesh loved Enkidu like a wife.