Epic Of Gilgamesh

Epic Of Gilgamesh

Epic Of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh is based upon the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and his life trials. The story   is in the region of Mesopotamia, founded in the grandest city of it’s time, Uruk. The people of Uruk are sent into a worry state when they start to notice that Gilgamesh has not found his counterpart and has not produced any offspring. With much pleading of the people the Goddess Aruru creates Gilgamesh’s counterpart, Enkidu.   When they meet Enkidu and Gilgamesh realize they are competent partners and soon become inseparable. Enkidu strengthens Gilgamesh’s traits making him a better leader and warrior. They then embark on journeys to prove their strength, on these journey’s their actions upset some of the deities and the curse of Humbaba is carried out on Enkidu. The Epic poem then moves its focus on to Gilgamesh’s reaction and journey after loosing his best friend. The epic poem has many themes such as heroism, friendship, love and most importantly man versus deities. Through the poem   the audience sees some of Gilgamesh’s and Enkidu’s actions and statements as rebellion and a state of arrogance against the gods and goddesses. However, through out the text it becomes apparent that man is not greater then the deities whom rule over man kind.
One of the biggest actions of rebellion in this epic poem is when Gilgamesh and
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Enkidu embark on a journey to Cedar Mountain to kill the protector Humbaba. Before
they leave for their journey Gilgamesh stated, “ As for human beings, their days are numbered… … It is I who will establish fame for eternity” [67].   Gilgamesh shows in the first part of his quote that he understands that human life is short, making humans less then gods who‘s life is for eternity. However, if he does receive fame for eternity that would put him on the same level as gods and goddesses. This show’s that although Gilgamesh is going to kill Humbaba for Shamash his motives for himself are...