Cultural Differences Of Human Themes In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’ is an enthralling tale that has incorporates violence, sex, companionship, and the uncertainty of death into an epic poem, which alludes to cultural normalities of Ancient Mesopotamia. The use and approval of sex and prostitutes rather than its condemnation in our society is one such cultural normality. Though the cultural differences between our society and the Ancient Mesopotamian society are quite obvious, there are similarities shown throughout the epic and the author 's style of writing that reflect similarities between the ancient society and modern day. Among those similarities, are the purposes authors have for creating literature. To answer the question of why the ancient author decided to write this epic, can be answered with the question; why has anything in the history of literature been written? …show more content…
The Epic of Gilgamesh’s purpose should be no different. That purpose, that need we as a people have to write, could very much be considered a human characteristic. The ‘Epic of Gilgamesh” being the oldest written text, does not change the fact that people of the day were humans, people just like us, and we are very similar, if not identical, at our core. However, this author’s has a supplementary motivation for writing Gilgamesh, as there are several different themes portrayed; physical and internal journeys being the motivating factor for change, as well as love.
The Epic of Gilgamesh could be considered a coming of age story for the main characters, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The structure of the epic depicts the physical and emotional journeys that both Gilgamesh and Enkidu experience, and the journeys that they experience separately. Enkidu’s journey is what starts off with his ‘birth’ into the world as a wild man, as he is described to be living with comfortably among animals, “With the gazelles he grazes on grasses, joining the throng