Ethical Issues In Gilgamesh

An ethical issue involves a problem or situation that requires a person or organization to choose between alternatives that must be evaluated as right or wrong. Right meaning ethical and wrong being unethical. A problem or situation always has an outcome; this outcome could determine or define the choices a person makes which could reflect upon the story line of their life. The epics; The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, and Shakuntala, introduce many issues. The central characters strive toward individual goals and community interests. However, their actions, specifically towards their excessive pride, hospitality, vengeance, love, and growth, raise ethical questions. The Epic of Gilgamesh focuses on two main characters; Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Gilgamesh is seen as a very strong, independent, and a handsome man. No man has ever come close to how great of a man Gilgamesh is. Because of how likeable Gilgamesh is, he becomes very full of himself. The theme of hospitality is a remarkable part of the epics. You need to be a good host, as well as a good guest in order to get respect from other people. Gilgamesh loses a lot of respect due to his actions, which focuses upon the topic of hospitality. He decides to step on people’s shoes and ruin relationships. Gilgamesh sleeps with brides before their husbands, this is …show more content…
This is shown in different ways, the first one being through love and duty. In the case of Shakuntala and the king, duty and passion do not balance each other out well. The king has his duties through royalty and his love for hunting but also through responsibilities in taking and loving Shakuntala forever. This decision could be hard in any man’s life, but the king decides to have both royalty and responsibility. The ethical issues of choosing between love and duty result in a better life with choosing to have both of