Gilgamesh

Sarah Qin

Heather

Humanities

12/12/14

Essay

     Many books tell us how to become a hero. A hero must experience difficult challenges and be brave and just. Heroes are respected by citizens because they contribute to this world. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Stephen Mitchell, the heroes, Gilgamesh and Enkidu must experience difficulties. Then they are transformed. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are heroes because they were went to kill Humbaba together. They are brave enough. They can surmount dangers. Gilgamesh and Enkidu follow the steps of the hero journey and are transformed at last. They learn to embrace their own life.

     In the beginning, Gilgamesh is not a good person. He takes citizen’s child, and always do some bad things. “He takes the son form his father and makes him fight. He takes the daughter form his mother and uses her the way he wants to.” He just is a tyrant. Later, he knows Enkidu and fought with him. Before that, they become friends. “They hugged each other and kissed. They held hands like brother. They walked side by side. They became friends.” He doesn’t seek long life anymore, he become a sentient person. He meets Enkidu and learns to love him. But he is still selfish. He wants to people will know his name forever, so he decision to kill Humbaba.

     Enkidu is a wild man in the beginning. He doesn’t have feeling. He just likes a deer, drink with deer, eat with deer and live with deer. He was naked. He lived far away from cities. Later, a man who was a trapper saw that. The trapper’s heart pounded. He found priestesses, told priestesses about that. She takes Enkidu went to city. Then, Shamhat told him about food and water. Later, he becomes a man. He knows Gilgamesh and fought with him. They become friends. But after that he becomes a bad man. He doesn’t want to kill Humbaba, because he thinks that is very dangerous, and because Humbaba is innocent. Finally, Gilgamesh persuaded Enkidu, but this makes Enkidu feel ashamed. He thinks he should do something for citizen. So he accepts to kill Humbaba with Gilgamesh and they are successful. Finally, he fell sick. He has more dreams about entering the underworld. Before he died, he curses Shamhat. Then, he just gives Shamhat a different fate. Because Enkidu thought his die main cause Shamhat let him walk out forest, but the city is dangerous. Then, the god encourages him to accept his life. “Enkidu, why are you cursing the priestess Shamhat? Wasn’t it she who gave you fine beer fit for a king. She clothed you Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh will lay you down in a bed of honor. He will place your statue beside you. The princes of earth will kiss its feet. The people of Uruk will mourn you. When you are gone, Gilgamesh will roam the wilderness. He will have matted hair and be dressed in the skin of a lion.”

     Gilgamesh is arrogant when he walks through the city. “He is powerful and tall, and violent.” He has made people suffer. “The city of Uruk is Gilgamesh’s possession. He is an arrogant when he walks through the city.” He is a tyrant, until he met Enkidu. He fights with Enkidu. He though Enkidu is as strong as himself. “They hugged each other and kissed. They become friends.” Then Gilgamesh wants to kill Humbaba, because he is evil. “Time passed quickly. Gilgamesh said, ‘Now we must travel to the Ceder Forest. That is where the fierce monster, Humbaba lives. He is evil. We must kill him.’” That means Gilgamesh is become a good person. He wants to kill evil. They defeat Humbaba successful. When Enkidu died, Gilgamesh sob for him. “My beloved friend is dead. My beloved brother is dead. I will mourn as long as I breathe. I will sob for him like a woman who has lost her only child.” He wants to make Enkidu viable. He loves Enkidu. “He tore out his own hair. He tore off his beautiful robes.” He becomes a good person already.