Gilgamesh Being two-thirds God and one-third Human was not only a terrible person through the constant raping of women. In addition to was a terrible king to his people. In order to somewhat seek redemption on himself, he was not afraid to challenge powerful God-like figures.
“As for human beings, their days are numbered, and whatever they keep trying to achieve is but wind! Now you are afraid of death--what has become of your bold strength?”(Line 230-233). He did not want human limitations and sought for mortality to become more of a God. The journey he bestowed Upon himself was to prove others and mainly to himself that he is more of a God than human by wanting that power in return for a glorious deed he must do. “I want to make myself more mighty, and will go on a distant(?) journey!”(line 263).Therefore, when Gilgamesh has aggressively gone throughout this lengthy journey with Enkidu, he aggressively challenges Humbaba a demonic monster not only to be a hero like a figure once again but to prove himself of his personal greatness of a God that he so desperately wants to become. When returning with the decapitated head of Humbaba to his kingdom a princess Ishtar has confessed her love only to be scorned and indignantly rejected by Gilgamesh. "Father, Gilgamesh has insulted me over and over, Gilgamesh has recounted despicable deeds about me, despicable deeds and curses!”(line 80-83). Ultimately, it has inevitably led to an attempted killing of Gilgamesh and the tragic death of Enkidu who has passed wearily through debilitating illness. At this critical point, there may have been merely a overwhelming sense of negative karma of his past wrongdoings.
He subsequently undergoes another journey or ideal hero like nature to the underworld in order to rescue his dear friend. "I am going to die!--am I not like Enkidu?! Deep sadness penetrates my core, I fear death, and now roam the wilderness--I will set out to the region of Utanapishtim, son of Ubartutu, and will go with utmost dispatch!" (line 1-5). He desperately tried to achieve a successful journey, his personal limitation of being merely a human had unwittingly caused him to fail miserably his personal journey. However, when Utanapishtim has scarcely explained to Gilgamesh about a peculiar way to be escaped of death, he set on another quest to achieve his legitimate desire after unsuccessful attempts in his previous journey.“(Yes, you are a) human being, a man (?)! After Enlil had pronounced the blessing, the Anunnaki, the Great Gods, assembled”(line 29-31). At this critical point, Gilgamesh has not yet accepted himself for whom he is and is desperate to keep on going. He is miserable with himself as part human. When being challenged by Utanapishtim for immortality Gilgamesh has accepted his unusual request.“Now then, who will convene the gods on your behalf, that you may find the life that you are seeking? Wait! You must not lie down for six days and seven nights”(line 204-203). Gilgamesh naively assuming not being able to sleep would be easy had thought wrong and yet failed once again only to reluctantly return empty-handed on again.“Gilgamesh and Urshanabi boarded the boat, they cast off the magillu-boat, and sailed away”(line 264-265). No matter how many journeys Gilgamesh had caused he ultimately had no successful missions only tragedy. This may have resulted disastrously from all the personal wrong he had done to those helpless women and how terrible of a cruel king he was.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteGreat write up here. I do agree that there is many hard journeys but not all end with defeat, right? For example, when Gilgamesh and Enkidu embark on the first journey together to kill the monster that guards the forest, they succeed. Although it does result in a death, they did complete that mission within the journey. I also believe that there was an accomplished mission in the last mission that Gilgamesh went through. His fear of the mortal world and life ending pushed him to be a better person, leader, and influential figure. He was on this journey alone and he did complete it, successfully, I feel. Everyone is a work in progress, that is understood, but what is definitely noted is that Gilgamesh, in the final lines of the play, decides to relay the message to appreciate the smaller things by telling the boatman to look at the scenery and take it in and study it. This demonstrates that he gains a sense of understanding and appreciation for his land, which ultimately indicates a more empathetic view of his people and how he needs to not only rule, but guide them.
Ashley, I agree that the way of Gilgamesh perception of people was wrong in the beginning. But even if he did grow organically into a profound appreciation of what he has naturally learned throughout his memorable journey does that make up for all the cruel wrong he has done offensively in his criminal past. His violent past wasn't just an innocent error it was malicious and allowed a preconceived notion of what he was doing with the mind set he had already.He may have a possible change of noble heart of but knows if he will resort to his old ways once again.
ReplyDeleteGilgamesh at the end of the story certainly seems very different than the Gilgamesh at the start of the story. His fight with Enkidu, great friendship with him, adventures, and profound loss of his friend seem to leave their mark on him. It's interesting to note that other characters don't recognize him when he goes on the journey in quest of immortality because he looks so gaunt and pale--physical signs of his grieving. The tests from Utnapishtim that he fails also seem to rattle him--accepting death as a reality and his own limitations and mortality certainly seem to diminish his arrogance and narcissism from the start of the story. However, I think it's worth noting that his crimes at the start of the story are not so easily forgotten. He may have changed--he may be reformed--but would his people forgive and forget? They seem to given the narrator's praise of Gilgamesh and his accomplishments. It's worth noting that the values of the ancient Mesopotamians were likely different from ours when it comes to their outlook on their leaders--they were probably far less critical and more forgiving than we are in 21st century America. After all, they saw their king as semi-divine, the builder of their city and protector from the dangers of the wilderness and other kingdoms.
ReplyDeletecheap rolex watches, combining elegant style and cutting-edge technology, a variety of styles of cheap rolex deepsea watches, the pointer walks between your exclusive taste style.
ReplyDelete