The story of Gilgamesh mainly deals with matters affecting human life. Gilgamesh is celebrated for his successes as a human, such as protecting the city and learning to accept mortality and not his dimity. Initially, he did not fear anything because he had powers bestowed by the gods to rule over the town of Uruk, and he believed that he was superior. Unfortunately, the gods became angry with him because of his bad behavior, so they created someone identical to him. “Do not put your all your trust in your strength. Let Enkidu who knows the way lead you” (Ferry 18). This statement meant that he sought for ways to immortality such that he could encounter the fear he had developed. This paper will reflect on the main lesson of immortality, why Gilgamesh dressed like Enkidu, and why he was afraid of death.
He dressed like Enkidu because he wanted to cause confusion so that he could lie with the bride before the husband. “Before the husband, Gilgamesh will lie with the bride in the marital chamber. There is no withstanding the aura or the power of desire of the Wild Ox Gilgamesh, he is the strongest of all.”(Ferry 14). In this quotation, Gilgamesh is revealing his bad behavior that made the gods hungry. When Enkidu heard about the plans, he decided to follow him to Uruk because he understood him as evil, and whatever that he wanted, he would force plans and get it. When the crowd saw Enkidu, they surrounded him, hailing him as their champion. He fights Gilgamesh, and since he is not more robust, he is defeated and decides to pledge fidelity to Gilgamesh. They reconciled after the fight, and Ninsun Gilgamesh’s mother gave them blessings believing that Enkidu would be the faithful companion of her son.
The two found an adventure to go to search the demon, which people feared. In this instance, Gilgamesh finds a path to attain immortality. “The demon must be killed before Enlil and the other gods are told (Ferry 30).” Enkidu explains to Gilgamesh about a fearful Monster in Humbaba who the gods appointed to guide the cedar forests. Even though he warns that the monster is invisible, Gilgamesh is determined to fight by accepting death as long as he lives an essential mark on earth by killing the enemy or by even dying in the hands of the enemy. They finally agree to join forces and fight the demon. After ordering new weapons from the armor makers, they together went to seek destiny.
The poem mainly addresses the theme of mortality. Gilgamesh is tasked to understand that despite being a king, he must face the fate of death mainly after the gods are frustrated. While on their way to Humbaba, Enkidu expresses his concerns about death, after which Gilgamesh laughs saying that life is short and therefore, no one will live forever. He is distraught that he even seeks the way out to Utnapishtim to learn the secret in immortality. Despite his hopes to get a positive answer about immortality, Utnapishtim tells him the flood story. He further explains that the quest for immortality is futile because, during the creation of each living thing, there is the seed of death. Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with the main lesson of mortality that life is not is measured by wealth but by the time when alive around the people who were closer to him.
Initially, Gilgamesh was fearless and did not fear anyone because he had was the ruler of Uruk. Due to his bad behavior, the gods became livid and created a person identical to him. He had to seek ways of getting himself out of the problem by joining forces with Enkidu. Unfortunately, the friendship did not prosper for long since Enkidu was murdered. From this instance, Gilgamesh feared death that he sought to visit Utnapishtim because he believed that he had all the answers to his questions. “He said to himself, that he would seek Utnapitshtim, he might find out how death could be avoided.” The end of Enkidu was the turning point of his life mortality, and his journey was because he wanted to gain immortality. He fears death and does not want to be forgotten.
Upon arrival, he asked Utnapishtim how he had received his immortality, and he was answered that it was a hidden secret so that humans could not be explained about it. He is presented about the history of the world how the gods destroyed people through the floods and only spared one man and his family. The floods were intense in that the gods were also frightened that they started regretting, “The days of old have turned to stone: We have decided evil things in our assembly.” (Ferry 34). Gilgamesh lamented that death was following him until the wife to Utnapishtim pleaded that he could have mercy on him. He is offered a place of immortality where a plant at the ocean’s bottom could make him young again.
In conclusion, Gilgamesh did not receive immortality because he lost it before confirming if it was a magic plant on their tour to guarantee its legibility. After eating, a snake slithered and ate up the plant when they were dead asleep. When he wakes up, he weeps after finding out what the snake did. “For whom have I labored? For whom have, I suffered? I have gained absolutely nothing for myself. I have profited the snake, the ground lion! (Ferry 67). The eternal power remained with Utnapishtim alone.
Works Cited
Ferry, David. “From the” Epic of Gilgamesh”. Triquarterly, vol 83, 1991, pp. 1-35.
Lewis, Jenny. Translating Epic from an Unfamiliar Language: Gilgamesh Retold. Diss. Goldsmiths, University of London, 2021.