Essay about Friendship Theme in Gilgamesh - 970 Words

Friendship Theme in Gilgamesh True friendship is egalitarian. Everything is shared, loyalty to the friendship is equal, and the basis of the camaraderie is wholly altruistic. The friendship between the king Gilgamesh and the man of the steppe, Enkidu, was not a true and equal friendship. Loyalties and sacrifices to that friendship were disproportionate. Friendship is conveyed in more than one way in Gilgamesh. The companionship between Enkidu and the animals of the steppe is the first example of friendship. Enkidu lived with the animals, as one of them: He freed them from the traps / The hunters set. / A hunter’s son one day / Saw Enkidu opening a trap: / The creature was all covered with hair / And yet his hands had the†¦show more content†¦/ Gilgamesh was quiet at this interpretation / Of his dream. (p. 19) Ninsun was right, and the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was one of great loyalty and trust. The formation of the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was very abrupt. Upon meeting, they fought fiercely, stopped, and embraced. This pithiness gives an air of ingenuity to the relationship, but that is later shattered by their loyalty to one another in following scenes. And they were friends: / They had embraced and made their vow / To stay together always, / No matter what the obstacle. (p. 27) The most supporting aspect of their companionship was their encouragement to one another. When one of the friends faltered or showed weakness, the other reinforced fearlessness and reminded them of their friendship. No, Enkidu cried; it is the journey / That will take away our life. / Don’t be afraid, said Gilgamesh / We are together. There is nothing / We should fear†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Suddenly it was Gilgamesh who was afraid / Enkidu who reminded him to be fearless. (p. 28, 34) Enkidu’s devotion to Gilgamesh is shown in their battles with both Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. By partaking in these battles with Gilgamesh, Enkidu is expressing his friendship. The conquests aren’t his idea, and heShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : Gilgamesh1013 Words   |  5 Pages Gilgamesh in 2015 Even though the epic Gilgamesh is thousands of years old, it is still read today. Why would the era of technology read an epic this old? This is because the themes in Gilgamesh are still relevant. In addition, the themes are experiences that Gilgamesh went through in his life period, and serve as lessons for the current readers. Gilgamesh’s themes include journey, legacy, love, and death. These themes make Gilgamesh a vital reading for the 21st century citizens because peopleRead More Lessons Learned From the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay1448 Words   |  6 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh, a Mesopotamian epic poem with no known author, is the story of the brute King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, who was two-thirds divine and one-third human, which teaches readers the unstoppable force of death, the wrath of the gods, and also the power of friendship, which are illustrated to readers through the characters journeys, and those encountered along the way. The poem, which is divided into t welve tablets, starts off with Gilgamesh being a vicious tyrant, one who â€Å"wouldRead MoreGilgamesh : The Epic Of Gilgamesh1194 Words   |  5 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian epic poem loosely based on a real king who ruled sometime around 2700 BCE. The standard version of this epic was written in the Akkadian language. In 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 for his actions. Gilgamesh is a very egocentric person; he has no respect for the feelings of others and does not care about howRead MoreEpic of Gilgamesh1581 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The epic poem dubbed the Epic of Gilgamesh is perhaps the earliest surviving literature on the face of the planet. The poem came from Mesopotamia in its original cuneiform script comprising 12 tablets. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a chronicle detailing the classic adventures of Gilgamesh, a historic king of Uruk. Over the years, historians have eliminated the 12th tablet for alleged inconsistencies. The poem depicts a wide range of themes such as the inevitability of death, which is portrayedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1449 Words   |  6 PagesEpic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is a bully king who frightens and annoys the people of Uruk. After the gathering with Enkidu and becoming his friend does Gilgamesh transform, into a hero worthy of history. The brotherly or â€Å"bromantic† ( considering the questionable relationship they have) love the two have for each other helps Gilgamesh become an better leader to his people by permitting him to better understand and identify with them. Even though the myth of Gilgamesh is very ancient, friendship and deathRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh1067 Words   |  5 PagesEpic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a personRead MoreThemes Of Immortality And Improbable Brotherhood Of Gilgamesh And Enkidu1250 Words   |  5 PagesThemes of Immortality and Improbable Brotherhood of Gilgamesh and Enkidu â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh† takes two very different characters and places them together with numerous battles causing an outcome of brotherhood. Gilgamesh is the fifth king of Uruk an evolving character who is two-thirds god and one-third man. He is a demigod who is known for his hubris and building the walls of Uruk for his peoples protection. Enkidu is the conception of the goddess Aruru made of clay and salvia to tame GilgameshRead MoreThe Epic Of An Epic886 Words   |  4 Pagesoften begins with a prayer or an invocation to the Muse for inspiration in telling the story. The word inspired has different meanings in different cultures. In addition to these mentioned characteristics, most epic poems conventions have common themes. For example, epics are â€Å"in medias res†, In Medias Res is Latin for it begins in the middle of things. Specifically, in Iliad, for example, the tale begins after the war between Greece and the forces of the walled city of Troy has been on goingRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad1546 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad are two extremely different stories, The Iliad being a tale of war (specifically the Trojan War) while the Epic of Gilgamesh is a true Epic in the sense that it is a journey, all about the development of the characters. While there are many different themes throughout both books, one of the most important themes is the way that friendship develops both of the people involved and the way that it ties into the story overall. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu and GilgameshRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Lesson962 Words   |  4 Pagesshare have their similarities, maybe even be the same story, unintentionally, of course. Stories like The Epic of Gilgamesh and Toni Cade Bambara’s â€Å"The Lesson†. The Epic of Gilgamesh and â€Å"The Lesson† are mainly about the main character having to deal with a higher authority are either fought or just poin ted out when the character hasn’t realized it. Both stories . The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale from ancient Mesopotamia, with no known author (however there is an editor who was a Sin-leqi-unninni,