The Tragic Hero In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

In many literary works, including The Epic of Gilgamesh, the portrayal of a hero who faces and overcomes evil symbolizes hope for humankind in general. When the protagonist of the epic, Gilgamesh, squares up with the demon, Humbaba, the battle signifies more than simply a fight between two entities. The king sets a goal for himself: journey to the Cedar Forest, defeat the guardian demon, and retrieve the cedar. Several times along the way, the hero experiences dread. His fear is justified; Enkidu tells Gilgamesh of the demon, “Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death.” Indeed, the journey is nearly cancelled due to the terror that the protagonist feels. He at one point tells his friend, “Let us go back from the mountain, down to the plain.
The demon calls chaos down upon his opponents. “Then followed confusions of voices and also of hearts,” the epic tells. “Always the face of Humbaba was somewhere there. There was the noise of swords, daggers, and axes, confusions of noises in the Cedar Forest.” Just before giving up, the king decides he will make a final plea to his god, crying out, “Protect us as we pass through fearfulness.” His prayer is heard, and Shamash grants victory against the foe. The story of Gilgamesh and Humbaba represents a greater literary theme of vital importance to the human experience. There is a common formula here. First, there is ambition. Then, a plan is formulated and followed by an action. With the action comes the fear of failure, the temptation to quit, and finally the challenge of clearing hurdles to attain the goal. Tales of heroes who wrestle with evil are so necessary because they reflect the hardships of growth and give inspiration to audiences in the midst of their own battles. In other words, Gilgamesh is every man who has ever been forced to face his