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
with self that Gilgamesh experiences. Gilgamesh himself presents strong potential, self-confidence, leadership, and strength among man. Enkidu, as an equal counterpart, sidekick and supporter, and at times Gilgamesh’s conscience, is very effective in swaying Gilgamesh’s decisions and exposing his character. Finally Humbaba, who brings out Gilgamesh’s hubris and represents the imperfection and mortality of man, sheds light on Gilgamesh’s poor character in the first few tablets.
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
character in which Gilgamesh faces self-actualization and becomes a true hero. Gilgamesh’s development into a kindhearted leader is driven by his interactions with Humbaba and Enkidu. It is said early in the epic that Gilgamesh is two thirds god and one-third man.
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
righteousness. After Gilgamesh refuses Ishtar’s advances (Tablet VI, Column VI, 70-75), she vengefully kills Enkidu for the death of Humbaba and the bull of heaven (Tablet VI, Column VI, 53). This is perhaps Gilgamesh’s most enlightening moment, and also the most thematic moment of the play. Enkidu’s death frightens Gilgamesh because it dawns on him that he too is mortal. Being part divine, Gilgamesh assumes his right to immortality, and sets out on a quest to obtain it. However it almost seems as if he is incomplete without Enkidu, and the task given to him by Utnapishtim to acquire eternal life falls through. Humbaba and Enkidu symbolize the two divine parts of Gilgamesh that he sacrifices with his choices. Gilgamesh’s hubris and tyranny boomerangs, however his improved philosophy and outlook near the ending outweighs the cost of shaping it. Gilgamesh’s journey is relatable to the moral struggle undergone by humans. He ultimately realizes that the gods dictate his fate. Through selfishly conquering Humbaba to show off his strength, he went too far as to anger the gods. Which later results in his loyal sidekick being killed. In a way Gilgamesh’s arrogance at the start catalyzes his fate, and he deludes himself by pushing the gods. This parallels tendency of men to test their authorities, and make decisions that worsen their quality of life when they should do the opposite. Gilgamesh learns this with the help of Enkidu, and maybe all humans will eventually learn the same.

Works Cited

George, A. R. The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.