Final Reading Response
Much like today’s domestic dogs spawning from primitive wolves, humans also evolved from living in the wilderness to the luxury of civilization. As certain dog breeds emerged in new areas with their unique traits and characteristics to complement their environment, humans expanded their roots and developed their cultures very similarly. These advances are seen throughout the early tablets of the Gilgamesh text as Enkidu is transformed from beast to man. The reader is shown how Enkidu (the dog) is immersed into the early Mesopotamian culture and essentially trained to become a man through some very erotic actions.
As it’s obviously portrayed in the text the Ancient Mesopotamians placed a high value on sex and intimate relationships. Not only with man and woman but also Enkidu’s special relationship with Gilgamesh which at times comes into question of how affectionate their friendship really is. However, the sexual link shared between Shamhat and Enkidu is what plays a vital role in his becoming man. The reader sees Enkidu losing his touch with the wilderness when it states, “The two of them made love together. Enkidu forgot the hills where he was born. Six days and seven nights Enkidu was hard, mating with the [love priestess]” (pg 91). In the wilderness animals don’t …show more content…
As Enkidu became man from his actions his other ties with the animal kingdom were severed, “She made him know, the man-as-he-was, what a woman is…. Seeing him, Enkidu, the gazelles scattered, wheeling: The beasts of the wilderness fled from his body. Enkidu tired to rise up, but his body pulled back. His knees froze. His animals had turned from him” (pg 77). His presence was no longer recognised in the wilderness because he had been civilized by
Much like today’s domestic dogs spawning from primitive wolves, humans also evolved from living in the wilderness to the luxury of civilization. As certain dog breeds emerged in new areas with their unique traits and characteristics to complement their environment, humans expanded their roots and developed their cultures very similarly. These advances are seen throughout the early tablets of the Gilgamesh text as Enkidu is transformed from beast to man. The reader is shown how Enkidu (the dog) is immersed into the early Mesopotamian culture and essentially trained to become a man through some very erotic actions.
As it’s obviously portrayed in the text the Ancient Mesopotamians placed a high value on sex and intimate relationships. Not only with man and woman but also Enkidu’s special relationship with Gilgamesh which at times comes into question of how affectionate their friendship really is. However, the sexual link shared between Shamhat and Enkidu is what plays a vital role in his becoming man. The reader sees Enkidu losing his touch with the wilderness when it states, “The two of them made love together. Enkidu forgot the hills where he was born. Six days and seven nights Enkidu was hard, mating with the [love priestess]” (pg 91). In the wilderness animals don’t …show more content…
As Enkidu became man from his actions his other ties with the animal kingdom were severed, “She made him know, the man-as-he-was, what a woman is…. Seeing him, Enkidu, the gazelles scattered, wheeling: The beasts of the wilderness fled from his body. Enkidu tired to rise up, but his body pulled back. His knees froze. His animals had turned from him” (pg 77). His presence was no longer recognised in the wilderness because he had been civilized by