WebThe Epic Of Gilgamesh Essays Epic of Gilgamesh The Gilgamesh Epic is an excellent illustration of early Mesopotamia poetry, commonly regarded as the oldest surviving WebIn this epic poem, Gilgamesh is King of Uruk, he is one third mortal and two-thirds god; he is described as a strong, arrogant, and unruly king that does not show much consideration Web8/12/ · Utnapishtim makes Gilgamesh undergo certain tests in order to obtain the gift of immortality. However Gilgamesh fails the test to stay awake for a week. As he is
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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Gilgamesh — Why is Gilgamesh an Epic Hero. Mythology is full of individuals who are gilgamesh essay to have had superhuman powers. While some of these people have used their powers for the good of humanity, others have misused gilgamesh essay for their own selfish gains. Others, however, gilgamesh essay, are documented as having shown characteristics that are both beneficial to humanity and gilgamesh essay themselves as well, thereby making it difficult to pass judgment as to whether they are heroes or villains. The poem which dates back to the 2nd or 3rd millennium BCE gives an account of Gilgamesh, a mythological king of Uruk, gilgamesh essay. Studying The Epic of Gilgamesh is the only gilgamesh essay of determining whether Gilgamesh was a hero or not, based on an interpretation of the text.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is composed of 12 tablets that detail the life and times of Gilgamesh who is considered to have been a hero and at the same time a villain. The epic was originally a Sumerian poem in cuneiform script that was later compiled in Akkadian. Owing to the numerous translations that the poem has undergone to date, gilgamesh essay, it cannot be said with certainty that indeed the text that is in existence today is actually representative of the original events that took place all those years ago. However, some events could not have been lost in translation and these include the exploits of Gilgamesh which border on boldness and antagonism, gilgamesh essay.
Perhaps the best way of determining the heroism or badness of Gilgamesh is to consider a given passage in the text. In one part of the poem, the following passage stands out and explains the reason as to why Gilgamesh could be considered to be a hero. Where is the strength? Gilgamesh essay is your courage? If I should gilgamesh essay, my name will be secure. It is Gilgamesh who will venture into the Forestand cut down the Cedar down and win the glory. My fame will be secure to all my sons. According to the passage, Gilgamesh is described as an individual who is not only courageous but also strong enough to face any challenges that come his way. Courage and strength are considered to be among two of the most important virtues that a hero should possess because, in their gilgamesh essay, even the smallest of challenges might be too daunting for them.
Additionally, gilgamesh essay, a person who expresses any form of cowardice cannot, under any circumstance, be considered as a hero because this actually is the antithesis of heroism. Secondly, Gilgamesh attains the gilgamesh essay of hero because he is not afraid of danger. He is described in the passage above as being bold enough to venture into the Gilgamesh essay Forest and to embrace danger by fighting with ferocious animals such as lions and wolves. Under ordinary circumstances, this would be a very difficult thing for a mere mortal to do, but being half gilgamesh essay and half man, Gilgamesh seems to have handled the issue with ease.
Gilgamesh essay has a story of a hero been told where the hero is shown to be afraid of danger, and even in the event that they are, they always get over their fear to face an enemy no matter how adversarial they may be. This notion is reinforced in one of the lines in the passage when Gilgamesh claims that he will fight against Huwawa and establish his name as a glorious fighter among his sons. After having spoken to the Scorpion Dragon Being, Gilgamesh is gilgamesh essay to have gone to Mount Mashu and entered into the tunnels alone.
As mentioned earlier, heroes are supposed to be fearless individuals and this is exhibited by Gilgamesh who ventures into the dark tunnel all by himself without even thinking of the dangers that gilgamesh essay lurk in the shadows. The fact that he chooses to go without a companion also acts to show that indeed Gilgamesh was a hero of note. An individual must overcome several challenges in order to be called a hero. After encountering several travails along the way, Gilgamesh finally finds Utnapishtim who is supposed gilgamesh essay give him the answer to eternal life.
Gilgamesh manages to retrieve the plant which Utnapishtim tells him has the power to restore youthfulness but as he washes up, a serpent creeps up on him and gets away with it forcing a dejected Gilgamesh to go back to Uruk empty-handed. On the contrary, a person may be tempted to conclude that Gilgamesh is not a hero. The Epic of Gilgamesh might contain several instances where one would be inclined to believe that Gilgamesh was just a lucky human being who happened to receive supernatural powers by virtue of being born to a goddess. For instance, there is no place in The Epic of Gilgamesh where the protagonist is called to adventure. Based on this assessment, gilgamesh essay, one would have no choice but to take it that Gilgamesh is not a hero but a self-centered mythological being who is actually afraid of dying.
Secondly, gilgamesh essay, Gilgamesh fails to be identified as a hero because he was more concerned with fame than anything else, gilgamesh essay. As it is commonly known, heroes are supposed to be selfless individuals who embark on quests that could even be life-threatening for the sake of protecting the human race. As a result, it would be expected that a hero would take on a dangerous mission, not in order to gain fame but to prove that they are truly the defenders of the human race. Gilgamesh, according to Larsen, fails to show this characteristic in the fight with Humbaba and in travailing through Mount Mashu. In fact, before engaging in battle with Humbaba, Gilgamesh claims, gilgamesh essay, according to the passage under consideration in this essay, that he would remain famous among his sons if he was gilgamesh essay win the fight.
This is in total contradiction to the requisite actions of heroes and thus one would be forgiven for believing that Gilgamesh is not a real hero but an assumed one. As mentioned earlier, a hero is supposed to protect his people at all costs and not to turn on them. Gilgamesh however, des the complete opposite. At one point in the essay, questions are raised in regards to the manner in which Gilgamesh behaves. They even question why the gods had to give them Gilgamesh as their king because rather than protect them and ensure that no harm comes to them, gilgamesh essay, Gilgamesh is busy oppressing his subjects, gilgamesh essay. This is perhaps out of the knowledge that they are weak creatures and thus cannot do anything in retaliation, gilgamesh essay.
It is important to note also that in as gilgamesh essay as Gilgamesh seemed to portray behavior that was uncharacteristic of heroes, he was part human and probably not immune to human behavior gilgamesh essay may be errant at times, gilgamesh essay. The point here is that even heroes may at times behave in a manner that may not be viewed as pleasant but this should not be used as an excuse to demonize them. Earlier on in this essay, Gilgamesh gilgamesh essay described as being a self-centered individual who is out to look for nothing else but fame. It is also noted that Gilgamesh has embarked on a journey in order to solve an individual problem rather than a communal one.
However, an inspection of the text in the later stages of the poem would suggest otherwise, gilgamesh essay. At some point in the poem, Gilgamesh explains his plan to a boatman by the name Urshanabi gilgamesh essay says that: Urshanabi, this plant is a wonderful plant. New life may be obtained by means of it. I will carry the thorny plant back to my city. From this passage, it becomes evident that Gilgamesh is not that selfish after all seeing as he intends to use the powers of immortality with his subjects in Uruk. Additionally, the Supreme Ordeal is the obstacle that heroes have been waiting to overcome throughout their adventure. Everything the hero has done gilgamesh essay down to this test.
For Gilgamesh, it was obtaining the magical plant that restores youth. This is the moment that decides whether or not he will meet his goal he has worked so hard for. Although he did not succeed in reaching immortality, gilgamesh essay, the tension is relieved, because gilgamesh essay accepts the fact that living forever is not his fate. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist is presented as an individual who has a penchant for fame and all the recognition that comes with it. Under normal circumstances, this could pass for just another case of chest thumping but when the context under which this takes place is considered, one might have to rethink their position, gilgamesh essay.
Of course, heroes were supposed to undertake various challenges some of which were fraught with danger, with some requiring that the hero goes alone. And so, the question arises of who was to tell about the heroes exploits after a successful adventure rather than the heroes themselves? The Epic of Gilgamesh also outlines how human beings are greatly concerned with the concept of mortality and ho. Just like Gilgamesh, most people dread the idea of having to lose their lives and if it was up to them, they would choose to live for all eternity. In the same way that Gilgamesh is left distraught by the death of his friend, Enkidu, human beings are usually devastated also whenever they learn that they have lost a friend or a close relative.
Due to the devastation caused by death, many scientists the world over have embarked on studies to try and come up with ways of prolonging life; an idea that is much welcome among all members of the community. However, achieving this objective is not easy because of the limitation of mankind in terms of knowledge creation and interpretation, gilgamesh essay. Human beings, therefore, just like Gilgamesh also have the potential to acquire the tag of hero or villain depending on the success or failure of the activities engaged in that can be measured by their impact on gilgamesh essay human beings.
In conclusion, there is a very fine line between heroism and antagonism. Evidence of this is found The Epic of Gilgamesh where the main character Gilgamesh is described through both lenses. On one hand, Gilgamesh is considered to be a hero because he sets out to find a cure for death for the human race but on the other hand, he also displays carelessness by taking the wives of human beings. As the king of Uruk, it would be expected that Gilgamesh would show respect to his constituents and gilgamesh essay he protects them but this is not always the case, gilgamesh essay. Instead, Gilgamesh only strives to build his fame so that he could be remembered for ages to come; something he does manage to attain.
Of course, such actions have may have negative or positive repercussions, gilgamesh essay, and it is thus the impact on humanity as a whole that would be the best indicator of the appropriateness or not of the action and the doer, gilgamesh essay. Gilgamesh, therefore, gilgamesh essay have had some flaws that would render him a villain but when it is considered that he gilgamesh essay a human side as well, it becomes justifiable to label him as a hero, gilgamesh essay. Works Cited Campbell, gilgamesh essay, Gilgamesh essay. The historical development of mythology. Joseph Campbell Foundation, Ferry, David.
Larsen, Kristine, gilgamesh essay. Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. Starting from 3 hours delivery. In the book, Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out on an adventure to kill Humbaba. The two characters, Gilgamesh and Enkidu, are complete opposites from each other and this helps them get through a tough challenge, gilgamesh essay. Gilgamesh, [ One of the earliest pieces of literature which has lived on into the modern era is the Epic of Gilgamesh from ancient Mesopotamia. It was written as a poem gilgamesh essay 12 tablets in the Akkadian language in B. after years of [ In The Epic of Gilgameshthe female characters hold small roles, but they are in no way secondary to the male characters, as their roles are pivotal to the story.
Through their roles as mothers, harlots, and goddesses, they [ In the Epic of Gilgamesh, it depends on the lord of Uruk in early Mesopotamia which is Gilgamesh and what he experiences all through his adventure gilgamesh essay the tablet, gilgamesh essay. Gilgamesh is referred to his kin as the miscreant. He assaults the [ Are humans inherently flawed? Is there something fundamentally imperfect with human nature? These questions have been asked by philosophers from as early as BCE when the first book ever was written, Gilgamesh, was [ The story of Gilgamesh is very complex and as stated by Kenneth Rexroth a psychological one as well.
Gilgamesh Essay
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WebThe Epic Of Gilgamesh Essays Epic of Gilgamesh The Gilgamesh Epic is an excellent illustration of early Mesopotamia poetry, commonly regarded as the oldest surviving WebGilgamesh is determined to live forever, and he begins to track down a mortal named Utnapishtim who was granted eternal life. Gilgamesh overcomes many obstacles to Web8/12/ · Utnapishtim makes Gilgamesh undergo certain tests in order to obtain the gift of immortality. However Gilgamesh fails the test to stay awake for a week. As he is
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