The most discernible theme illustrated in the Epic of Gilgamesh is that friends define who one is. Enkidu persuaded Gilgamesh to “[smite Humbaba] in the neck”to kill him,helping Gilgamesh gain his main characteristics: strength, wisdom, and honor.“[Enkidu’s] sickness worsened” and led to eventual death,making Gilgamesh start to fear death. Because Gilgamesh had seen first hand the suffering that death brings, he goes on a quest for immortality. In the end,he fails and realizes that true immortality is the survival of what one leaves behind, showing that Enkidu’s death caused Gilgamesh to realize true immortality. Therefore,the theme of Gilgamesh is that one is defined by one’s friends.
