Comparing Temptation In 'Epic Of Gilgamesh And Odyssey'
“The Epic of Gilgamesh” and “Odyssey” are related to each other in many ways. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” has an unknown author and was written in 1300 BC. The story is about the adventure that Gilgamesh endures on his search to find immortality. “Odyssey” was written in 800 BCE and the author is Homer. “Odyssey is a story about a man named Odysseus and the tests he endures to get home after the Trojan war separates him from his family, because the difficulties he encounters he does not make it home until after 20 long years. These two ancient stories are compared by both being epic poems. These two stories also share the common theme, this theme is temptation. Temptation is brought in the stories by testing the main characters to make the right
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In this epic poem, Odysseus faces many challenges that make it harder for him to make it home (Beers). He faces the goddess Calypso, Circe who is a enchantress, and the sirens. Calypso tells Odysseus that if he stays on her island that he can be immortal (Beers 654). “... Guard this house, and be immortal- though you wanted her forever, the bride that you pine for each day. Can I be less desirable than she is?”(Beers 654). This is a temptation because he could have stayed with her and live forever or he can risk his life and make it home. The enchantress Circe is a temptation for Odysseus because she tries to persuade him to stay on her island (Beers 673). “ Now Circe, ‘loveliest of all immortals,’ persuades Odysseus to stay with her”(Beers 675). This is temptation because he ended up staying a year on her island (Beers 673). In Gilgamesh he goes on a journey for immortality, as he continues his journey he endures Ishtar, a goddess, and Enkidu, his good friend (Beers 20). “When they dare try to criticize Ishtar, who makes romantic overtures towards Gilgamesh, she sends the Bull of Heaven to ravage the land as punishment”(Beers 23). This is temptation because when he refuses her romantic gestures he gets punished and his friend dies (Beers 24). His friend Enkidu causes Gilgamesh's temptation for immortality from the death that
In this epic poem, Odysseus faces many challenges that make it harder for him to make it home (Beers). He faces the goddess Calypso, Circe who is a enchantress, and the sirens. Calypso tells Odysseus that if he stays on her island that he can be immortal (Beers 654). “... Guard this house, and be immortal- though you wanted her forever, the bride that you pine for each day. Can I be less desirable than she is?”(Beers 654). This is a temptation because he could have stayed with her and live forever or he can risk his life and make it home. The enchantress Circe is a temptation for Odysseus because she tries to persuade him to stay on her island (Beers 673). “ Now Circe, ‘loveliest of all immortals,’ persuades Odysseus to stay with her”(Beers 675). This is temptation because he ended up staying a year on her island (Beers 673). In Gilgamesh he goes on a journey for immortality, as he continues his journey he endures Ishtar, a goddess, and Enkidu, his good friend (Beers 20). “When they dare try to criticize Ishtar, who makes romantic overtures towards Gilgamesh, she sends the Bull of Heaven to ravage the land as punishment”(Beers 23). This is temptation because when he refuses her romantic gestures he gets punished and his friend dies (Beers 24). His friend Enkidu causes Gilgamesh's temptation for immortality from the death that