What Is The Meaning Of Life In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Decent Essays
Elizabeth Elias
First Year Seminar
Professor Smuts
16 November 2017
1)
For Gilgamesh, life is not just the opposite of death. He was king of Uruk, two thirds god and one third man. Although Gilgamesh was godlike, he abused his power in many things. Hearing the people's complaints, the gods create Enkidu as a match for Gilgamesh, a second self to put Gilgamesh in check. “Let them contend together and leave Uruk in quiet.'" It worked because first thing , Enkidu prevented Gilgamesh from entering the house of a bride and bridegroom; they fight, then they become best friends. Enkidu also taught Gilgamesh what it means to be human; he teaches him the meaning of love and compassion,loss and the meaning of mortality and life. For Gilgamesh, who started off as a hard headed king, the friendship with Enkidu and the trials he endures seem to bring some life into
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They think that with making a difference or a change, they can gain meaning of life. For example, Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out to slay Humbaba for glory, and to make a name for themselves. Gilgamesh, wants a hero status, so his goal was to fight and kill Humbaba, to prove to the people that they should not be afraid of Humbaba and that the gods are able to disobey by mortals. “Establish for ever (a fame) that endures how Gilgamesh slew (furiously) humbaba.”- tablet 5. Here, Enkidu encouraged to kill humbaba to gain fame, and to make a mark on the world, which when achieving it, it leads to meaning of his life. "Erect an eternal monument proclaiming …how Gilgamesh killed Humbaba." Here Enkidu is also trying to convince Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba by saying that the deed will make him famous, and Gilgamesh ends up being known for Gilgamesh known for the lasting walls of

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