Humbaba And Enkidu In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Entering civilized life, or having a highly developed society and culture, comes with its share of losses and gains. If a person were to become civilized they would be giving up nomadic and animalistic ways, as Enkidu did after he “copulated with a temple prostitute for six nights and seven days.” (Jackson, Tablet I) Though there is losses, the gains greatly outway them. In giving up his uncivilized ways, Enkidu’s mind was awoken. He was shunned by the animals, whom he’d lived among since his creation, and he was educated so that he would be accepted among the people of Gilgamesh’s city, Uruk. He ate, drank, and dressed as they did, and this turned Enkidu from an animal into a man. Along with becoming sophisticated, companionship is to be found when one becomes civilized, just as Enkidu did when he moved into the city and met Gilgamesh. …show more content…
After meeting Enkidu, Gilgamesh felt that he could no longer live in the moment and that he must leave his mark on civilization and accept death. So he and Enkidu decide to take on the monster, Humbaba. Humbaba is an “evil” who guards the Cedar Forest. He was said to be invincible, but Enkidu was insistent that Gilgamesh could defeat him. Humbaba finds himself at the mercy of both Gilgamesh, who has the monster down, and Enkidu, who is encouraging Gilgamesh to finish Humbaba off. By defeating this evil, Gilgamesh and Enkidu have done the work of the sun god,