Enkidu's Journey: An Analysis

Imagine going on a journey and not knowing where to go or what to do. That person that went on the journey would be extremely confused and would not know how to handle themselves. They would have to ask for help and would need assistance in getting around to their final destination. If they did not know where they were going, they would be going on a pointless journey and would have to plan their journey out as they go. In another situation, imagine a person that has their plan mapped out and knows where they are going. They have planned for their journey and have taken precautions and know of everything that could happen to them. They would not have to plan their journey out as they go because they have been prepared and know what is coming …show more content…
He was around death so much that he began to think of it himself, leaving him to ponder what his death would be like. He also wanted to be able to release the thought of Enkidu’s death off his mind so he began to think of other ideas. As he saw Enkidu struggle with his death and all of the hardships that came along with his death, Gilgamesh only had the option to question his fatality. As Gilgamesh heard about Enkidu’s death, he was left to ponder what he was able to do and had the thought of him going to the Underworld. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu were talking, Gilgamesh said: “Oh, my ball, oh, my stick! / My ball which I had not finished enjoying, / My stick which I had not finished playing with!” (XII. 158-160). Gilgamesh was playing with a ball and he dropped it down into the Underworld and had asked Enkidu to go down there and receive the ball for him. Enkidu agreed and Gilgamesh warned Enkidu of everything that could happen to him, telling him to watch out for those certain things. Enkidu did not listen and all of the information that Gilgamesh had told him to watch out for, happened to Enkidu. With Gilgamesh asking Enkidu to go down into the Underworld, it shows that Gilgamesh has accepted Enkidu’s death and that he has moved on from his grieving process. When Enkidu came back from the Underworld, Gilgamesh questioned him and he replied saying, “If I tell you the way things are in the netherworld, / You would sit down and weep, I would sit down and weep too. / My body you once touched, in which you rejoiced, / It will [never] come [back]. / It is infested with lice, like an old garment...” (XII. 261-265). Enkidu did not want to tell Gilgamesh of everything because he knew that Gilgamesh would become upset and would worry even more. As Gilgamesh heard Enkidu relay what he was saying