Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Odysseus
A Journey Through Life The Journey of Gilgamesh and Odysseus came from two different time periods with two heroes trying to find their meaning to life. The two men have both been granted strengths by the Gods. One having physical strength and the other having mental strength. Both men take on these journey’s and experience hardships and make mistakes in order to find themselves and what their life is really about. Both stories have many similarities and differences but both end with the same meaning, the meaning to life. Gilgamesh is the King of Uruk. He is powerful and someone that everyone desires to be. He is also mortal which means he must experience the feelings of losing a loved one as well as his own death. After losing a close friend,
his goal is to find a way to become immortal. Odysseus is also a King. He is King of Ithaca and a huge part of the Trojan War. During the War, Odysseus comes to find out that his family is struggling back home. He wants to do everything he can to be with his family and realises that his family means more to him than his life and anything that he could learn being in the war. Gilgamesh may have been the King of Uruk but he was selfish and evil. He did not protect the people of Uruk. He killed sons and raped daughters. The people of Uruk prayed to the Gods for help. The God Anu listened to the peoples cries and felt Gilgamesh needed a partner that was also mighty in strength. “Let them contend with each other, that Uruk may have peace.” (tablet 1 pg. 101, line 85) Enkidu was created and became great friends with Gilgamesh. Enkidu later dies causing Gilgamesh to start a journey to find immortality and later discovers the true meaning of life. Odysseus was also a self confident king. He was granted cunning and intellect by the Goddess Athena. He was a loyal husband and had a fixed goal of returning home. He had to face many trials and tribulations but nothing could stand in the way of him returning home to his family. He was much respected through out the entire epic which is what sets him apart from Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Odysseus’s journey taught them both many life lessons. In the Odyssey, Odysseus learned that his men were not loyal, that they are greedy and wont listen to him. He learns that his men cannot be trusted. Odysseus learned many things on his Journey causing him to change. In the beginning he was arrogant and an unappreciative man. He refused to honor the Gods for their help and direction in his life. He changed from the prideful man that he was into the desperate man he became because of the many obstacles he faced during his journey. Gilgamesh faced a journey only to find his true meaning to life. He was tested by the Goddess Ishtar but Gilgamesh did not want her. In return, Ishtar killed his friend Enkidu. This made Gilgamesh want to find how to have eternal life. He later finds that there is a magical plant to grant him immortality. “I myself will eat it and so return to my carefree youth.” (tablet XI, page 150, line 303). A serpent stole this plant causing Gilgamesh to weep because he had lost his only shot at eternal life. At the end of the day, Gilgamesh went back to his life with new meaning that everyone dies eventually because that is how we were created. These two Journeys are the same but yet different. They each have overcome their obstacles and are rewarded with the knowledge they needed to know what life means to them.
his goal is to find a way to become immortal. Odysseus is also a King. He is King of Ithaca and a huge part of the Trojan War. During the War, Odysseus comes to find out that his family is struggling back home. He wants to do everything he can to be with his family and realises that his family means more to him than his life and anything that he could learn being in the war. Gilgamesh may have been the King of Uruk but he was selfish and evil. He did not protect the people of Uruk. He killed sons and raped daughters. The people of Uruk prayed to the Gods for help. The God Anu listened to the peoples cries and felt Gilgamesh needed a partner that was also mighty in strength. “Let them contend with each other, that Uruk may have peace.” (tablet 1 pg. 101, line 85) Enkidu was created and became great friends with Gilgamesh. Enkidu later dies causing Gilgamesh to start a journey to find immortality and later discovers the true meaning of life. Odysseus was also a self confident king. He was granted cunning and intellect by the Goddess Athena. He was a loyal husband and had a fixed goal of returning home. He had to face many trials and tribulations but nothing could stand in the way of him returning home to his family. He was much respected through out the entire epic which is what sets him apart from Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Odysseus’s journey taught them both many life lessons. In the Odyssey, Odysseus learned that his men were not loyal, that they are greedy and wont listen to him. He learns that his men cannot be trusted. Odysseus learned many things on his Journey causing him to change. In the beginning he was arrogant and an unappreciative man. He refused to honor the Gods for their help and direction in his life. He changed from the prideful man that he was into the desperate man he became because of the many obstacles he faced during his journey. Gilgamesh faced a journey only to find his true meaning to life. He was tested by the Goddess Ishtar but Gilgamesh did not want her. In return, Ishtar killed his friend Enkidu. This made Gilgamesh want to find how to have eternal life. He later finds that there is a magical plant to grant him immortality. “I myself will eat it and so return to my carefree youth.” (tablet XI, page 150, line 303). A serpent stole this plant causing Gilgamesh to weep because he had lost his only shot at eternal life. At the end of the day, Gilgamesh went back to his life with new meaning that everyone dies eventually because that is how we were created. These two Journeys are the same but yet different. They each have overcome their obstacles and are rewarded with the knowledge they needed to know what life means to them.