How Did Gilgamesh Change

Classical Literature

October 8, 2013

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh the main character is portrayed as the strongest and biggest in the land. He is the mighty king of Uruk and some events came into his life, causing him to change who he was. He encounters a man of the wilderness that is as big and strong as him, they eventually become great friends, but then the man of the wilderness, Enkidu, dies. The way Gilgamesh changes are from those impactful events that come into his life, causing Gilgamesh to change his morality and attitude about death, from having is best friend die, and actually seeing death makes him want to be immortal, when he used to think death came upon everybody and it wasn’t a big deal, and
friendship, from him being lonely to having a great companion that was very much like himself. Lonely people looking for friends usually don’t have their way until they find someone like themselves. Gilgamesh the Wild Ox was considered a giant, everyone feared him because he was so strong and powerful. He was a king and had al most everything. There was one thing that Gilgamesh did not have though, a true friend that loved and cared about him as if he was his brother. One day the old men in the city of Uruk cried out to the goddess Aruru and said, “You made this man. Now create another”(5). This is important because it shows that he was really the only the only one like himself, there was no one in the land that was as big or as strong as the Wild Ox. It also shows that Gilgamesh might have an opportunity to finally have a someone that is as big and strong as he is. In Ancient times it was though if anyone were either bas big or bigger and as strong or stronger as you, you would show respect to them. Then the old man says again, crying out to the goddess Aruru, “Create his double and let the two contend”(5). This shows that when it says “create his double” that means create another person like Gilgamesh, rather than doing nothing and terrorizing commoners in the city out of boredom because he has no one to do something with, that will actually bring him joy. The two biggest in the land of Sumer, Gilgamesh and Enkidu, find each other, fighting and embracing each other. For example, when Gilgamesh and Enkidu first meet face to face, Enkidu challenges him in a fight, because Enkidu thinks he’s the biggest and strongest in the whole land: “Stormy heart struggled with stormy heart as Gilgamesh met Enkidu in his rage” (15). This shows that Enkidu thought he was the best in the land of Sumer. After Gilgamesh had defeated Enkidu, they embraced each other: “Then Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced, / and kissed, and took each other by the hand”(16). This is very important because the friendship that Enkidu and Gilgamesh have is one that changes Gilgamesh’s attitude about friendship. Showing that he really didn’t have a true friend until Enkidu came, and Enkidu can put Gilgamesh in his place if needed, so the bond that the two have is not what you see a lot. As the two became friends there friendship turned into brotherhood. When Enkidu and Gilgamesh went to slay the demon that was in the woods, Huwawa, they were both scared as they got closer to the demon, but then Enkidu said, “Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror”(26/27). This is important because it shows a key part in the story where they become really close as friends. Not to long after they defeated the demon of the woods, Gilgamesh encountered a goddess named Ishtar. She wanted to marry and have kids with Gilgamesh, but he refused to take the offer. Ishtar in rage sent the Bull of Heaven down to kill Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeated Bull of Heaven, then it says, “Then Gilgamesh and Enkidu together went hand in hand, two brothers, to the Euphrates…” (35). This is important because it shows that they are called brothers. It shows the type of relationship the two have now, from friends to brothers. Life is given and life is taken away, sometimes abruptly, and so it was Enkidus fate that was decided.
After both Enkidu and Gilgamesh returned from cleaning themselves and their weapons in the Euphrates, Ishtar was furious, and the gods decided to have a council. The topic of the council was who should be killed, Enkidu or Gilgamesh. It came down to the final answer and Enkidu was chosen. That night Enkidu fell sick. The night Enkidu died, Gilgamesh and Enkidu had a dream about the underworld, as soon as they woke up Enkidu said something, then “After that Gilgamesh heard the death rattle” (43). This is very important because it shows the death of Gilgamesh’s “brother”. The relationship they had was very strong, and for one to die like that was heartbreaking for Gilgamesh, thus forward you see the way Gilgamesh changes out of anger and sadness of the death of Enkidu, his companion. The next day Gilgamesh wakes up with a troubled heart, saying, “It is Enkidu, the companion, whom I weep for, / weeping for him as if I were a woman” (44). This shows that Gilgamesh is truly depressed, it said that he was weeping like a woman, showing that Enkidu really did mean a lot to Gilgamesh, which makes Gilgamesh’s idea of death more sad than death just being a normal thing that everyone has to go
through, Emotions can overwhelm a person, making them think things that not might be the beat for them as a human being. Soon after several days of mourning, Gilgamesh went on a quest that no mortal could do, he went up a dangerous mountain, and then after that he saw a tavern that had a tavern keeper. He decided to stop there for a rest. He asked a question several times, but then what he did out of love for his companion Enkidu: “Seven days and nights I sat beside the body, weeping for Enkidu be side the body, and then I saw a worm fall out of his nose” (56). This is important because it shows a picture of death. The worm that fell out of his nose disgusted Gilgamesh so much that he didn’t want that to happen to him. Close after that he went to the tavern keeper and asked again, “Tell me the way to find the only one of men by means of who, I might find out how death can be avoided”(57). This shows that Gilgamesh is now on a quest to find out how he can be immortal. Showing that his view of death has changed from, well every mortal dies at some point; to I can’t die after I saw the image of what death actually looks like, he doesn’t want to die anymore, he wants to be immortal. In conclusion, the two biggest in all of the land had an emotional journey, especially when Enkidu dies. . The way Gilgamesh changes are from those impactful events that come into his life, causing Gilgamesh to change his morality and attitude about death and friendship.

Works Cited
Gilgamesh: A new Rendering in English Verse. Trans. David Ferry. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1993. Print.