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,
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Gilgamesh displays both courage and persistence throughout his final quest. He risks his life at every step and refuses to accept the impermanence that humanity has placed upon him (Tablet XI, lines 205-210). It’s strange for someone who fears death so much to challenge it voluntarily, even if it’s for the sake of eternal life. However, at the end of his quest Gilgamesh must accept that, yes, he, too, will lie down like Enkidu, falling asleep forever: “For myself I have obtained no benefit,” (Tablet XI, line 316). It’s as if the gods purposed it to happen. The difficulty of the trials that Gilgamesh faces, combined with both the improbability that Utanapishtim would grant him eternal life and the even higher improbability that it would be eaten by a snake, give Gilgamesh no choice but to accept his human fate. “I have come much too far to go back, and I abandoned the boat on the shore,” (Tablet XI, line 21); Gilgamesh doesn’t come to reach this conclusion peacefully and, if given the chance, he would probably go back and change his unfortunate sequence of events. This fact keeps Gilgamesh from truly accepting his eventual morbidity. His travels are proof that eternal life can be reached, but it’s not a privilege that he will ever be able to
Gilgamesh displays both courage and persistence throughout his final quest. He risks his life at every step and refuses to accept the impermanence that humanity has placed upon him (Tablet XI, lines 205-210). It’s strange for someone who fears death so much to challenge it voluntarily, even if it’s for the sake of eternal life. However, at the end of his quest Gilgamesh must accept that, yes, he, too, will lie down like Enkidu, falling asleep forever: “For myself I have obtained no benefit,” (Tablet XI, line 316). It’s as if the gods purposed it to happen. The difficulty of the trials that Gilgamesh faces, combined with both the improbability that Utanapishtim would grant him eternal life and the even higher improbability that it would be eaten by a snake, give Gilgamesh no choice but to accept his human fate. “I have come much too far to go back, and I abandoned the boat on the shore,” (Tablet XI, line 21); Gilgamesh doesn’t come to reach this conclusion peacefully and, if given the chance, he would probably go back and change his unfortunate sequence of events. This fact keeps Gilgamesh from truly accepting his eventual morbidity. His travels are proof that eternal life can be reached, but it’s not a privilege that he will ever be able to