Nandanie George
WLIT 201
Professor Ghelli
October 29, 2016
Fearing Death: Gilgamesh's Search for Immortality in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
From since the earlier years, people fear dying and many search for ways to carry on their lives forever. We have seen this theme of immortality appeared in some of the earliest written texts, especially in the Epic of Gilgamesh which was written in Sumerian cuneiform during the 2000 BC. This text has since influenced many works that is present today. Gilgamesh is half man, half god entity and a powerful ruler of Uruk. After his friend Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh starts to obsess over himself dying someday. He eventually leaves Uruk to prevent this from happening and went on a mission to find Utnapishtim; “[a man] whom the gods took after the deluge; and they set him to live in the land of Dilmun, in the garden of the sun; and to him alone of men they gave everlasting life” (Sanders, 16). The search for Eternal life has been around for a long time and many people throughout history has searched for the truth in this concept. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the struggles humans undergo to break free from the constraint of mortality and the acceptance of death, while at the same time trying make their life meaningful.
Human beings, just like Gilgamesh wants to live forever especially if they are every powerful and has all the freedom they desire. Gilgamesh had those power, he made the men of his city work non stop and he slept with the young brides first before their husband can (Sanders, 6). He was a cruel ruler until he met his match, Enkidu. Enkidu was a civilized man who didn’t agree with anything Gilgamesh did and challenged him on it. …show more content…
"The Foundation Of Existentialism In The Oldest Story Ever Told." Existential Analysis: Journal Of The Society For Existential Analysis 21.1 (2010): 76-88. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Nov. 2016.
Sandars, N. K., trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin,
WLIT 201
Professor Ghelli
October 29, 2016
Fearing Death: Gilgamesh's Search for Immortality in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
From since the earlier years, people fear dying and many search for ways to carry on their lives forever. We have seen this theme of immortality appeared in some of the earliest written texts, especially in the Epic of Gilgamesh which was written in Sumerian cuneiform during the 2000 BC. This text has since influenced many works that is present today. Gilgamesh is half man, half god entity and a powerful ruler of Uruk. After his friend Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh starts to obsess over himself dying someday. He eventually leaves Uruk to prevent this from happening and went on a mission to find Utnapishtim; “[a man] whom the gods took after the deluge; and they set him to live in the land of Dilmun, in the garden of the sun; and to him alone of men they gave everlasting life” (Sanders, 16). The search for Eternal life has been around for a long time and many people throughout history has searched for the truth in this concept. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the struggles humans undergo to break free from the constraint of mortality and the acceptance of death, while at the same time trying make their life meaningful.
Human beings, just like Gilgamesh wants to live forever especially if they are every powerful and has all the freedom they desire. Gilgamesh had those power, he made the men of his city work non stop and he slept with the young brides first before their husband can (Sanders, 6). He was a cruel ruler until he met his match, Enkidu. Enkidu was a civilized man who didn’t agree with anything Gilgamesh did and challenged him on it. …show more content…
"The Foundation Of Existentialism In The Oldest Story Ever Told." Existential Analysis: Journal Of The Society For Existential Analysis 21.1 (2010): 76-88. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Nov. 2016.
Sandars, N. K., trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin,