We see a hero as someone who is admired for his or her courage, achievements, or noble qualities. We define a hero as someone who is morally upstanding, and who fights for the greater good. Everyone loves the hero, and hates the bad guy. In reading the different literary works of art, I’m finding that a hero is incredibly hard to define in one simple sentence. In literature, the hero has a journey that he or she must go in in order to be considered a hero. This journey is usually one that isn’t completed until the end of the novel. The journey begins with a call to adventure, and ends with the hero returning and being enlightened. This essay will focus on the elements of a hero, and the journey that he or she must go on, using The Epic of Gilgamesh,
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In a way it is hard to see Gilgamesh as a hero because he was terrifying and did horrible things. Being to parts god and one part man, there was no one that could match him in greatness. His call to adventure is when Enkidu is created as his equal. The two of them go on an adventure together into the Cedar Forest to kill Humbaba, who is the guardian of the forest. It is very clear at this point that Gilgamesh does not have a well developed conscience when Humbaba begs to be set free, “Let me go free, Gilgamesh, and I will be your servant, you shall be my lord…” (Sandars, p. 82), but Gilgamesh “struck Humbaba with a thrust of the sword to the neck…at the third blow Humbaba fell” (Sandars, p. 83). Gilgamesh moves on, and in his journey he experiences a “crossing of the threshold” moment when he admits to his human side when he “wept over Enkidu” (Sandars, p 93). After the death of Enkidu, he begins his transformation. In losing his closest friend, he shows a side that everyone can relate to, and shows weakness. He goes on to say, “Although I should go in sorrow and pain, with sighing and with weeping, still I must go” (Sandars, p. 99). Gilgamesh is humbled by his friend’s death, but pushes on in his adventure of fighting death. Instead of accomplishing this goal, Gilgamesh goes on his journey to discover that because he is human, he will not live forever. Enlil, the father of the gods says to him, “You were given the kingship, such was your destiny, everlasting life was not your destiny” (Sandars, p. 118). This is when Gilgamesh really makes the transformation from being greedy and stronger than anyone else, to showing a much weaker and more sensitive side—which all humans have. By admitting that he was human, and in a sense, vulnerable, Gilgamesh is able to complete his journey and be a
In a way it is hard to see Gilgamesh as a hero because he was terrifying and did horrible things. Being to parts god and one part man, there was no one that could match him in greatness. His call to adventure is when Enkidu is created as his equal. The two of them go on an adventure together into the Cedar Forest to kill Humbaba, who is the guardian of the forest. It is very clear at this point that Gilgamesh does not have a well developed conscience when Humbaba begs to be set free, “Let me go free, Gilgamesh, and I will be your servant, you shall be my lord…” (Sandars, p. 82), but Gilgamesh “struck Humbaba with a thrust of the sword to the neck…at the third blow Humbaba fell” (Sandars, p. 83). Gilgamesh moves on, and in his journey he experiences a “crossing of the threshold” moment when he admits to his human side when he “wept over Enkidu” (Sandars, p 93). After the death of Enkidu, he begins his transformation. In losing his closest friend, he shows a side that everyone can relate to, and shows weakness. He goes on to say, “Although I should go in sorrow and pain, with sighing and with weeping, still I must go” (Sandars, p. 99). Gilgamesh is humbled by his friend’s death, but pushes on in his adventure of fighting death. Instead of accomplishing this goal, Gilgamesh goes on his journey to discover that because he is human, he will not live forever. Enlil, the father of the gods says to him, “You were given the kingship, such was your destiny, everlasting life was not your destiny” (Sandars, p. 118). This is when Gilgamesh really makes the transformation from being greedy and stronger than anyone else, to showing a much weaker and more sensitive side—which all humans have. By admitting that he was human, and in a sense, vulnerable, Gilgamesh is able to complete his journey and be a