Friendship Essay: Themes Of Friendship In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Friendship. It’s only a mere word, but it is a complex relationship that continues to develop and grow overtime. Enkidu and Gilgamesh, are two people who you could never picture to be friends, however, their friendship is a very dynamic one. Enkidu becomes Gilgamesh’s compliment; a person to balance him out, and in a way is a realization to Gilgamesh that he is not the only person with extreme power. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, we see Gilgamesh as a person of arrogance, lacking morality and someone who is self-centered. He is a powerful man who acts to better himself rather than the people of Uruk. We see Enkidu as “ignorant of oldness, he ran with the animals” (6), as a protector of nature, who was more animal-like than god-like. To be human, is to be self-aware, of your surroundings …show more content…
He is constantly seen with different women and uses his nobility to get people to fall for him. Gilgamesh is yearning for companionship, someone he can confide in and when Enkidu comes along, this sense of loneliness is diminished. We see Gilgamesh, making irrational decisions, and engaging in dangerous journeys and Enkidu becomes his conscience. He tries to convince Gilgamesh that his choices aren’t always the best and tries to keep him safe. On their journey to kill Humbaba, Gilgamesh proclaims to Enkidu “don’t be afraid, we are together” (17). Humbaba tries to convince Gilgamesh to rid himself of Enkidu and allow himself to become his sidekick, his other half. Enkidu is able to talk Gilgamesh out of this, and proclaims that Humbaba will only turn his back on him. Gilgamesh kills Humbaba, showing that he respects Enkidu’s opinion and that he will be there by his side forever, to defend their sense of honor. A strong friendship involves two people who are willing to protect one another, to put that other person before himself or