Gilgamesh Reading Response
Gilgamesh Reading Response
Upon finishing the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, i believe most people would have some strong feelings about the former king of Uruk. Although the majority of those feelings may include regurgitation, anger, and despise; I on the other hand would like to argue why Gilgamesh was a good guy. Of course Gilgamesh had his flaws, but if you could look past the senseless raping of his own women and the constant fear he placed in the hearts of his own people on a daily basis, Gilgamesh is a relatively stand-up Demigod. It appears to me that Gilgamesh took on the responsibility of being king before he was mature enough to do so. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and if it weren't for Enkidu meeting Gilgamesh, maybe Gilgamesh never would have matured enough to gain the gratitude and praise of his people. Becoming immortal was ultimately what …show more content…
Gilgamesh was striving for, and just like a true hero, he prevailed. His name has lived on utmost of 5,000 years which seems pretty close to immortality. Gilgamesh befriended a man by the name of Enkidu who most people probably wouldn’t give the time of day based on Enkidu’s unique habits.
“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 (Pg.4 paragraph 4). One of my best friendships started with a fight, just as the fight between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in which “They broke the doorposts and the walls shook, they snorted like bulls locked together. They shattered the doorposts and the walls shook. Gilgamesh bent his knee with his foot planted on the ground and with a turn Enkidu was thrown. Then immediately his fury died…So Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced and their friendship was sealed (Pg. 6 paragraph 4). The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is what i believe helped Gilgamesh learn and mature to gain the praise of his people. Before Enkidu stood up to Gilgamesh in Uruk, it was apparent that Gilgamesh’s strength had yet to be tested. Gilgamesh may have just had his first lesson in immortality and didn't even know
it. There is no doubt that Gilgamesh is un-godly strong, but he is also very wise, and seems to have a greater deeper understanding of life and death. Gilgamesh says to Enkidu, “Only the gods live for ever with glorious Shamash, but as for us men, our days are numbered, our occupations are a breath of wind. How is this, already you are afraid! I will go first although I am your lord, and you may safely call out, "Forward, there is nothing to fear!" Then if I fall I leave behind me a name that endures; men- will say of me, "Gilgamesh has fallen in fight with ferocious Humbaba." (Pg. 7 paragraph 3). That sentence alone provides insight that Gilgamesh exhibits great leadership, along with heroic qualities such as showing no fear, even in the “Land of Humbaba” (Pg.8 paragraph 1). Although it is unknown if Gilgamesh had any other real friends before Enkidu, based off their friendship, i would have to say Gilgamesh is a pretty good friend. That being said it is safe to say Enkidu knew Gilgamesh the best deep down. While Enkidu lay sickness stricken on his death bed he could have said anything to Gilgamesh but he choose to tell him, “O my brother, so dear as you are to me, brother, yet they will take me from you.' Again he said, ‘I must sit down on the threshold of the dead and never again will I see my dear brother with my eyes” (Pg. 13 paragraph 4). Enkidu, the person who was around Gilgamesh the most, really liked him and was devastated that he would not be able to hang out with him anymore. Upon Gilgamesh’s return he was revered as a legend among his people. The same people, who before he left, were praying for his downfall or at least an equal to put him in his place. “In those days the lord Gilgamesh departed, the son of Ninsun, the king, peerless, without an equal among men, who did not neglect Enlil his master. O Gilgamesh, lord of Kullab, great is thy praise” (Pg. 24 paragraph 6). Clearly the townspeople had a change of heart in regards to King Gilgamesh as they all “lamented” (Pg. 24) their drinks in the air and “weighed out their offerings” (Pg.24 paragraph 5). In conclusion i believe everything that happened to Gilgamesh, from feeling immortal in the beginning before meeting Enkidu, the search for immortality, along with defeating Humbaba were all pinnacle points in Gilgamesh maturing and becoming a great legend. With that being said Gilgamesh is overall a good friend, compassionate, and a great leader. Nobody is perfect and everyone has skeletons in their closet at one time or another, but it’s what you go through that makes you who you are. I think the great rapper Jay-z said it best, “You have to go through pain in order to become you” (Power ‘remix’- Jay-z feat Kanye West).
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Upon finishing the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, i believe most people would have some strong feelings about the former king of Uruk. Although the majority of those feelings may include regurgitation, anger, and despise; I on the other hand would like to argue why Gilgamesh was a good guy. Of course Gilgamesh had his flaws, but if you could look past the senseless raping of his own women and the constant fear he placed in the hearts of his own people on a daily basis, Gilgamesh is a relatively stand-up Demigod. It appears to me that Gilgamesh took on the responsibility of being king before he was mature enough to do so. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and if it weren't for Enkidu meeting Gilgamesh, maybe Gilgamesh never would have matured enough to gain the gratitude and praise of his people. Becoming immortal was ultimately what …show more content…
Gilgamesh was striving for, and just like a true hero, he prevailed. His name has lived on utmost of 5,000 years which seems pretty close to immortality. Gilgamesh befriended a man by the name of Enkidu who most people probably wouldn’t give the time of day based on Enkidu’s unique habits.
“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 (Pg.4 paragraph 4). One of my best friendships started with a fight, just as the fight between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in which “They broke the doorposts and the walls shook, they snorted like bulls locked together. They shattered the doorposts and the walls shook. Gilgamesh bent his knee with his foot planted on the ground and with a turn Enkidu was thrown. Then immediately his fury died…So Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced and their friendship was sealed (Pg. 6 paragraph 4). The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is what i believe helped Gilgamesh learn and mature to gain the praise of his people. Before Enkidu stood up to Gilgamesh in Uruk, it was apparent that Gilgamesh’s strength had yet to be tested. Gilgamesh may have just had his first lesson in immortality and didn't even know
it. There is no doubt that Gilgamesh is un-godly strong, but he is also very wise, and seems to have a greater deeper understanding of life and death. Gilgamesh says to Enkidu, “Only the gods live for ever with glorious Shamash, but as for us men, our days are numbered, our occupations are a breath of wind. How is this, already you are afraid! I will go first although I am your lord, and you may safely call out, "Forward, there is nothing to fear!" Then if I fall I leave behind me a name that endures; men- will say of me, "Gilgamesh has fallen in fight with ferocious Humbaba." (Pg. 7 paragraph 3). That sentence alone provides insight that Gilgamesh exhibits great leadership, along with heroic qualities such as showing no fear, even in the “Land of Humbaba” (Pg.8 paragraph 1). Although it is unknown if Gilgamesh had any other real friends before Enkidu, based off their friendship, i would have to say Gilgamesh is a pretty good friend. That being said it is safe to say Enkidu knew Gilgamesh the best deep down. While Enkidu lay sickness stricken on his death bed he could have said anything to Gilgamesh but he choose to tell him, “O my brother, so dear as you are to me, brother, yet they will take me from you.' Again he said, ‘I must sit down on the threshold of the dead and never again will I see my dear brother with my eyes” (Pg. 13 paragraph 4). Enkidu, the person who was around Gilgamesh the most, really liked him and was devastated that he would not be able to hang out with him anymore. Upon Gilgamesh’s return he was revered as a legend among his people. The same people, who before he left, were praying for his downfall or at least an equal to put him in his place. “In those days the lord Gilgamesh departed, the son of Ninsun, the king, peerless, without an equal among men, who did not neglect Enlil his master. O Gilgamesh, lord of Kullab, great is thy praise” (Pg. 24 paragraph 6). Clearly the townspeople had a change of heart in regards to King Gilgamesh as they all “lamented” (Pg. 24) their drinks in the air and “weighed out their offerings” (Pg.24 paragraph 5). In conclusion i believe everything that happened to Gilgamesh, from feeling immortal in the beginning before meeting Enkidu, the search for immortality, along with defeating Humbaba were all pinnacle points in Gilgamesh maturing and becoming a great legend. With that being said Gilgamesh is overall a good friend, compassionate, and a great leader. Nobody is perfect and everyone has skeletons in their closet at one time or another, but it’s what you go through that makes you who you are. I think the great rapper Jay-z said it best, “You have to go through pain in order to become you” (Power ‘remix’- Jay-z feat Kanye West).
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