Essay/Term paper: The epic of gilgamesh

Essay, term paper, research paper:  English Term Papers

Billy R. Nordyke
Professor Hill
Humanities I
9 May 1996
Essay over The Epic of Gilgamesh
The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, is Gilgamesh himself. In the beginning of the book one realizes that Gilgamesh is an arrogant person. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a god. Although some readers of this classic book may say that Gilgamesh does not change from the beginning of the book, it can easily be interpreted the other way. Throughout the book, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. He gains a friend, he makes a name for himself by killing Humbaba, and he tries to become immortal because of the death of Enkidu. Through these main actions his personality changes and he becomes a better person.
First, the quest for immortality after the death of Enkidu shows that Gilgamesh has changed. Gilgamesh becomes frightened when he realizes that he isn"t immortal. After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh tries to find immortality by trying to cross the ocean to find it. He sounds pathetic as he rambles of his reason for trying to find everlasting life. His state of being at this part in the book, which is the end, is completely different from his arrogant beginning of this epic. Gilgamesh has gone from arrogant to scared.
Second, the death of Humbaba changes Gilgamesh. Humbaba is evil. Many people who live in the city of Uruk fear Gilgamesh. Most would say that Gilgamesh himself is, in fact, evil. He has sex with the virgins, he does what he wants, and he tends to offend the gods. He has lots of problems with Ishtar. By going into the forest and facing Humbaba, Gilgamesh makes a name for himself and changes the views of the people in his city. This is a very arguable point. Yes, the past of Gilgamesh does not change, but the great deed of killing Humbaba, makes him a better person because he protects his city. This is another arguable point. Most would say he does this only to make a name for himself, but that is not the case. Gilgamesh does this because of his love for Enkidu and his people, he has changed from the beginning of the epic.
Finally and most importantly, the main reason that Gilgamesh changes from the beginning of the book is the friendship that he has with Enkidu. Enkidu is made to make Gilgamesh more human. In the first paragraph of the book the gods are angry with Gilgamesh and send down an equal of himself, they send down Enkidu. After becoming friends, Gilgamesh changes because he has an equal to be with. Enkidu and Gilgamesh become as close as brothers. Because of this, a very arguable point comes up. Was Enkidu and Gilgamesh lovers? The answer is obviously yes. What points in the book show this? They go to sleep holding hands, Gilgamesh loves Enkidu like a women, and Gilgamesh goes almost insane after the death of Enkidu. The point of Enkidu being a lover of Gilgamesh is very important. It allows the reader to understand the reasoning of Gilgamesh changing. There are no changes in Gilgamesh as a person until Enkidu enters the picture. Obviously he is the reason for all eventual changes in the personality and ma
nhood of Gilgamesh. If the belief and understanding of Gilgamesh and Enkidu being much more than "good" friends is present, then the understanding of why Gilgamesh changes in the book is also present. If Gilgamesh is just friends with Enkidu some change is possible, but not almost total recall as Gilgamesh does in the book. People change more if there is sex involved and there is a deep relationship. In order to make Enkidu happy, Gilgamesh has to change, and he does, throughout thier relationship.
In reflection, although some people would say that Gilgamesh does not change from the beginning of the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, the better understanding of the book reveals that, in fact, Gilgamesh does change from the beginning of the book to the end. The personality of Gilgamesh changes for three distinct reasons. First, Gilgamesh changes in the book because of his insatiable desire for immortality after the death of Enkidu. Gilgamesh wants immortality after the death of Enkidu. Second, Gilgamesh changes in the book because of the death of Humbaba. The death of Humbaba show