Comparing Gilgamesh And Enkidu's Friendship

In Gilgamesh, translated by N.K. Sanders, readers witness an unbreakable bond of friendship through the characters of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Enkidu was created by the gods to be Gilgamesh’s companion. They both guided each other through harsh times and were each other’s crutch. They shared a bond that could only be broken by death. When Enkidu passed away, it was clear how much of an impact it had on Gilgamesh. The friendship completely transformed his personality and stirred up emotions within him that readers may not have even know existed. He felt tremendous pain and mourned for days. Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s friendship was similar to that of a brotherly bond, they faced every obstacle in their way as a united force through every aspect of their life. Gilgamesh was an arrogant soul who exemplified his power through means of abuse, changed only by his friendship with Enkidu. Gilgamesh raped women leaving “no virgin to her lover” (13). He even took sons from their fathers (Gilgamesh 13). Enkidu was sent to Earth to be a companion and “an equal” to Gilgamesh (13). The God’s noticed Gilgamesh’s power was out of control and brought Enkidu into this world to be a hopeful dampener to his power. Enkidu was created to be a distraction as well as a companion. Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s friendship started off after Gilgamesh beat Enkidu …show more content…
The trust they have instilled into one another is clearly noticeable in the many times that they turned to each other for guidance. They both were extremely powerful beings, but despite all the power they both possessed, it could not save them from the ultimate end: death. Enkidu’s death left Gilgamesh mourning for days with feelings of sadness and remorse. It was at that moment that readers truly realized the beauty of their friendship, for Enkidu was dead, but Gilgamesh still loved and cared for him deeply. A true friendship never dies and Gilgamesh attests to