The Four Loves ': C. S. Lewis' Four Types Of Love

Kyle Cox
Dr. Rosenberg
Classical Literature
29 September 2014
Gilgamesh Theme Love is the most powerful force in the world. There never will be and there never has been anything as strong. But it is far too easy to say that love is the most powerful emotion — we all know it is. People, however, rarely assume the task of deciding which type of love is the strongest. In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis, a Christian, defines four types of love: agapé, the love from God, storgé, the love from familiarity and family, eros, romantic love, and philia, the love of friendship. There is no definite answer to the question of which of Lewis’s four loves is the strongest; it varies with time, place, and culture. But by looking at the type of love a
On their journey to the Cedar Forest, Enkidu encourages Gilgamesh when he grows fearful from “dreams that disturbed the sleep of the king” (25). Throughout the journey, “night after night … Enkidu always said they were fortunate” (25). Enkidu is always there for Gilgamesh, giving him hope and courage. Without Enkidu, Gilgamesh would not have made it through the journey. Enkidu keeps Gilgamesh hopeful. The strength of philia urges him on through the journey. The two also encourage each other in battle against Huwawa, making sure neither of them fled. “Enkidu saw the face of Huwawa the demon and fled from the face, hiding himself away, and Gilgamesh found him and said: ‘Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror.’ Then Gilgamesh said: ‘The face of Huwawa keeps changing!’ Enkidu said: ‘You are the strongest of all’” (26-27). The companions have confidence in each other and their companionship, and they encourage each other throughout battle. Their strength comes from each other. Without the other, either companion would have fled in terror. This was a task that could only be accomplished by companions with help of the force of philia. Enkidu and Gilgamesh encourage each other the same way when fighting the Bull of Heaven. “Gilgamesh fought, and fighting the Bull they cried: ‘Two people, companions, they can prevail together,’
As Enkidu was dying, Gilgamesh “weeping said: ‘Why am I left to live while my brother dies? Why should he die and I be spared to live?’” (38). Gilgamesh sounds as if he wished that his life was taken instead of Enkidu’s. He loves his companion so much that he wishes he could die instead of him, and he values Enkidu’s life more than his own. Enkidu dying leaves Gilgamesh feeling guilty for his death and without closure to their friendship. That thought makes Gilgamesh wish he could die instead. Enkidu is upset about dying himself, but for a different reason than the obvious one. Enkidu asks, “‘Must I now go sit among the dead, in the company of the dead without my brother?’” (38). This is the first thing Enkidu says when he learns of his own dying. What he immediately thinks when he realizes he is dying is that he will be without his companion, not that he will have to go to the terrible Sumerian afterlife. Enkidu values his and Gilgamesh’s companionship more than his own life. The loss of his brother is worse than the loss of his life. That feeling is the result of the force of