The Heroic Deed In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

An epic poem features heroic deeds and a character (typically considered a hero) that has a character flaw that is typically resolved by the end of the poem. In the epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero, Gilgamesh goes on a journey in which he begins to find himself. In order for Gilgamesh to find himself, he had to go through a tragic event which made him realize that he needed to change. The search for immorality is one of the main tops that this epic poem expresses. Immortality is having the ability to live forever. Gilgamesh had to go through many obstacles and because of his search for immortality, his character was able to undergo a character development and at the end of the epic, he is able to understand what the meaning of life …show more content…
There was no one on earth that would be able to stand up to him because they were no match for him. Gilgamesh was compared to a wild bull because just like a bull, he was very aggressive. He would take advantage of his power and go around killing men because he felt like it and he would go around and basically raping women because he knew that he could get away with it and it was in his nature to be destructive. These actions demonstrated by Gilgamesh caused the gods to get involved in which they created Enkidu in order to punish Gilgamesh for his arrogance. Enkidu and Gilgamesh ends up getting in a wrestling match which results in the two, of them becoming best friends which leads them on an eventful …show more content…
This is a turnover for Gilgamesh because he was previously seen as all powerful and invincible but now here he is, afraid to die. Enkidu’s death symbolizes that everyone will die; it’s a cycle in life that everyone must experience. Gilgamesh has not yet figured that out at this point; he travels to meet Utnapishtim to seek help on how he could become immortal. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh about the flood and how the gods regretted what they had done but, life will still go on. Gilgamesh still insists on wanting to have immortality so Utnapishtim gives him a test. “Come, come, try not to sleep for six days and seven nights” (Tablet XI ln.212). Gilgamesh ends up failing this test by sleeping for the six days and seven nights. Gilgamesh is not granted the gift of immortality but, he is given a plant which will allow him to look young. Gilgamesh takes it back with him to his home, and plans on letting an elder man try it as a test to see if it will work and if it does, he would then use it after him. Before Gilgamesh could test this, as he is in the shower, a snake ends up eating the plant. Gilgamesh was first seen as an arrogant, prideful and selfish in the beginning of the epic poem but he begins to resolve this character flaw once Enkidu is introduced into the mix. Enkidu ultimately is the reason why Gilgamesh was able to change at the end of the poem. If it wasn’t for the death of Enkidu, then Gilgamesh wouldn’t have embarked