What Are The Boundaries In Gilgamesh's Tyranny

Gilgamesh is a boundary pusher. From the first tablet, it is clear that he holds himself in high regard, with little consideration of his subjects. As king, he has completely destroyed the boundaries by taking advantage of his “all powerful” position. With little prior knowledge of this civilization, it would be easy to assume that this behavior was a standard means of rulers demonstrating their dominance; however, the citizens express their concerns to the gods- even calling him a “savage wild bull” (Tablet 1 80). Therefore, Gilgamesh’s tyranny is clearly not the norm. After years of sacrificing warriors and raping wives, he has pushed the boundaries with his people so far that there is nothing else left. Naturally, when he hears of a “journey