The Theme Of 'Change In The Epic Of Gilgamesh'

Improved Essays
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh, the protagonist, undergoes a main change. For example, we begin reading that “ the gods made his beauty perfect, suppressing all others, terrifying like a great wild bull (sanders 61)”. We learn that Gilgamesh is a very Awe looking person and people will likely adore him. Though with this gift comes responsibility and should use his power wisely, unlike in (Sanders 62) “No son is left with his father…His lust leaves no virgin to her lover”. Gilgamesh started changing when the gods asked for Gilgamesh’s equal, “She…pinched off clay, she let it fall in the wilderness, and noble Enkidu was created (Sanders 62)”. Enkidu was like Gilgamesh because when they fought, it was a fair match, and their friendship was

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Have you ever thought of life in Mesopotamia? What did the civilizations value? Civilizations included the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians and Hebrews. Many features and ideas of these civilizations influenced how people live and behave nowadays. The Mesopotamians put a great emphasis on literature, religion and laws/morals.…

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This semester the theme of imperialism stood out to me. Throughout the three major texts we analyzed, I was able to observe how each affected the characters within the story. The theme of imperialism allows us to see the changes in the daily lives of those affected during and after colonization. Through this lens, I observed how Gilgamesh impacted the people of Uruk from The Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was a brute towards his kingdom, and change their daily lives.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At a glance, one may assume that The Epic of Gilgamesh and I and Thou have no relation to each other. This can be believed when the plots of the epic and book, respectively, are taken into account. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem written by ancient, anonymous authors that tells the story of Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, and how he gradually becomes a noble king through a series of events, with his best friend Enkidu by his side. I and Thou is a book written by Martin Buber in 1923. This book is about how humans find meaningfulness for their lives through relationships with objects and with others.…

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He shaves his hair and no longer wears flashy clothes or overindulges. After returning from his journey, Gilgamesh actually becomes a very good leader, listening to his people and doing what is in the interest in the community, changing his legacy from an oppressive leader to a humble…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Epic of Gilgamesh was a changing story that had a changing image of its main character after it was first recorded in 2100 BCE in Mesopotamia. As time went on the language changed from Sumerian to Akkadian. The change of language brought new versions of the story which led to the image of Gilgamesh varying. In some he was known as being a great kind that had done many good deeds and in others according to abc-clio.com, "He is also described as abusing his powers and oppressing his people." The Mesopotamians thought of Gilgamesh as a heroic character because of the adventures he went on which meant encountering gods and monsters.…

    • 1195 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is a riveting tale of friendship, strife, and heroism. It follows Gilgamesh, along with his comrade Enkidu, on his journey to becoming immortal. While there are many things about this tale that would classify it as an epic, there are also quite a few elements in the storytelling that are more than often used in the dramatic genre of tragedy. There are many qualities to Gilgamesh that immediately establishes him as an arrogant and egomaniacal king in the mind of the reader. He is describes as being a fierce warrior, brave and strong.…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    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…

    • 1346 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Javier Romero Dr. Felipe English Comp 3 August 13, 2015 The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh shows realities between the unruly natural world and civilized Mesopotamia. This epic is the journey of a warrior, Gilgamesh, filled with great hubris, as he searches for the key to immortality. Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk but is seen more like a overpowering tyrant than a kind leader to his people. The gods send a wild man, Enkidu, as a buffer to Gilgamesh’s hubris.…

    • 1248 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Competition surrounds everyone. Whether it be in School, at a job, or a company, competition is found. Nowadays we see students slaving away to be the best in the class, to feel noticed. In a job, we see people sabotaging one another's work, competing to get the position. With companies, we see them fighting each other over who can make the most money.…

    • 1435 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is frequently regarded as one of the earliest surviving works of literature. It is an epic poem dating all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia, but as time passed, it seemed to have been forgotten for thousands of years. Different versions were eventually recovered and partially reconstructed into the epic we all read and enjoy today. Although The Epic of Gilgamesh might have barely survived its past, it has indeed made its way to our contemporary society with themes that still hold true to this day. Whether it is about love, danger, seduction, friendship, perseverance, wisdom, or any of the possibly hundreds of other significant themes, this epic clearly remains so popular due to its relatable nature and the engaging aspects in the stories found within the epic.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Psychological triggers and their role in self-discovery as examined in The Epic of Gilgamesh Epics are most often characterized by a flawed hero’s journey or quest to fulfill a fleshly desire, but instead, fulfills the hero’s need for wisdom. Likewise, The Epic of Gilgamesh can be characterized by Gilgamesh’s self-realization of humanity and mortality, discovered by both Gilgamesh and the reader through his quests for fame and immortality. He embarks on two separate journeys. The first journey, the slaying of Humbaba for eternal fame, is the first step of his transformation from a divine and selfish ruler to a very much humbled and wise human one, setting off a series of events that lead him to his second journey, a quest for immortality,…

    • 1384 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Journey of Gilgamesh The oldest piece of literature in the world today has transcended time. The main character of Gilgamesh reflects a journey that we must all make in life, learning we will not live forever. This lesson transforms Gilgamesh from a tyrannical leader to a humble king. Gilgamesh undergoes this transformation through a hero's journey.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The reader can conclude that Gilgamesh slowly adapted to Enkidu’s looks and style because he mourns for a great number of days. Also, he must tread through an extremely long, dark path for 12 days. Gilgamesh seeks the answer he long for and this search leads him to a dark passage that seems never-ending. From the Epic of Gilgamesh, it states, “When he had gone one league in, the darkness became thick around him, for there was not light, he could see nothing ahead and nothing behind him,” (16). The description of Gilgamesh’s road of trials.…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Power is the defining force in The Epic of Gilgamesh, but power comes in varying forms. In this essay, I will discuss the emphasis of power, how power is obtained, and the distinction of power in male and female characters and through this, it’s evident male power dominates due to Gilgamesh’s power as a king and his ability to defeat a god. The importance of power is what drives the tale of Gilgamesh. His desire for control over the people outside and within his country leads Gilgamesh on his heroic journey. Along the way, Gilgamesh meets others who rival Gilgamesh’s power.…

    • 1403 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Each genre has its own characteristics which uniquely defines the story type. More so, a book can comprise of a collection of different authors’ work irrespective of whether the stories have the same genre or even communicate about a similar theme. One of the most ancient epic stories “The Epic of Gilgamesh”. This epic poem has a rich history background which is well explained with myths and folklores. The story developed around an ancient King called Gilgamesh as well as another, the “wild” man named Enkidu (Iglesias: 9-10).…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays