The Means Of A Hero In Gilgamesh : A Hero

One of the most fascinating pieces of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh, deals with and explores many of the problems humans have wrestled with for thousands of years. Even though the text does not explicitly answer any of the questions it poses, it gives clues that point to the answers. One of these questions, the dilemma of whether to act based solely on a person’s intuition or act based on reason and advice, occurs regularly in the text. Throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh, characters have success and failure when they act based on either their intuition or using reason, but the epic clearly points out, through examples, that acting based on reason instead of intuition constitutes more success in all facets of life.

The story of Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk who is two thirds god and one third human, is a interesting and intriguing piece of literature. The story tells of Gilgameshs' strength, bravery, intelligence, looks, and loyalty making him a true model hero. It says that Gilgamesh was (pg.13), "given a perfect body and endowed with beauty and courage and his beauty surpassed all others." Throughout the story he is constantly going into battle and going on long adventures to find answers that will better his city. He is also respectful to those he meets along his journeys and asks God for strength during his battles. Gilgamesh is a religious character that posseses super human strength, bravery, selflessness, and intelligence making him a model

Gilgamesh, written by David Ferry, illustrates a story about a man who knows everything, but continues to try and learn more. Although Gilgamesh may be arrogant, he still remains a great ruler and commander of Uruk. Throughout the book, the adventures of Gilgamesh fit Joseph Campbell’s idea of the hero’s journey. After analyzing the pieces to the hero’s journey, Gilgamesh is proven to be a true hero because his journey parallels that of the hero’s journey described by Campbell. The latter part of this paper will prove Gilgamesh is a hero using Campbell’s model, by analyzing the pieces of the hero’s journey: separation or departure, the initiation, and the return.

The epic of Gilgamesh is a story of an ambitious epic hero who influenced historical scene and huge cultural differences in Mesopotamian society. Gilgamesh story implicates a sequence of religious and adventure victories of the century. The story tells a long live life of a brutal warrior and affective kings of different surrounding dominion. Gilgamesh was half human and one-third god, a combination that made him great humanitarian as well as greatest among the combatants. He was one the greatest with superhuman strength and was also proud preserved the wisdom of his people. The story is about showing God giving strength while searching for the meaning of life. Eventually, I don’t think Gilgamesh would be considered as a hero in today society because of spiritual characters and behaviors. He took an adventure to pursue his own desire and find out the secret life of immortality. Gilgamesh was a true hero because he was the strongest, caring and the wisest in Mesopotamian society.

Abusch perceives Gilgamesh to be a man, hero, king and god who acts in a manner that accords limits and responsibility imposed upon him by his society. Abusch illustrates that: “Gilgamesh is aggressive and courageous, even impetuous, and he shows little or no concern for his own safety and focuses all of his energy upon battle, obligation, honor, and victory” (3). The author explains that even with the greatest power and achievements there is no humanly possible power that is able to withstand death. Abusch’s analysis talks about Gilgamesh coming to terms with his nature and learns about death. The main conflict in the article is between Gilgamesh being an epic hero and his ability to obtain moral growth. Gilgamesh exists in

Gilgamesh is a hero. He notably did good, had a humane purpose to do good, which in the end displayed an everlasting message. In The Epic of

People have been fascinated by tales of heroism for centuries. In ancient Mesopotamia, heroes give people hope and comfort, and fill them with strength. Ancient Mesopotamia is filled with tales of heroes- mighty warriors battling monsters, men ready to risk life and limb to save their true love or to fight for their nation. Still, there is a great difficulty that lies in defining what a hero truly is. Strength alone does not make a hero; nor does intelligence. Moreover, the Epic of Gilgamesh truly defines the definition of a hero. Gilgamesh is portrayed as a true hero through his skill, intelligence, willingness to die, reverence, and his respect for death.

The maturation of Gilgamesh and his desire to acquire wisdom throughout his journey is quite apparent. By overcoming difficulties such as upholding Uruk, becoming friends with Enkidu, and various other scenarios, Gilgamesh proves that he did in fact grow up throughout the epic.

modern culture we are used to the stereotypical, sympathetic hero; the Batmans and Supermans who lose their parents in tragic circumstances and devote their lives to vanquishing evil. That however, is not the way heroes have always been portrayed. When we look at The Epic of Gilgamesh we see the archetype of every hero since, however, we are not overcome with a desire to see Gilgamesh succeed. On the hand, if we fast forward two thousand years and look at a hero from Africa named Sundiata who is very similar to Gilgamesh in many aspects, we do have desire for Sundiata’s success. Why do we root for one hero while casting away the other? It has to do with the way perceive that hero and their values as well as how we perceive the conditions each hero is faced with. If we can picture Sundiata as the evolution of Gilgamesh we see the differences and similarities between the two as culture moves toward embracing the sympathetic hero.

An epic hero is a protagonist whose life is a series of well-marked adventures which typically change the hero into a better, more refined person. These heroes are typically characterized by courage, strength, honor, and the hardships they endure and eventually overcome. An epic hero can even be known to risk his or her life for the good of others. Gilgamesh and Achilles are perfect examples of what an epic hero truly is. They are both able to become successful despite their flaws and go on to become powerful men.

Heroes are extraordinary characters who carry human qualities that reassure followers of the heroes’ limitations. A hero is commonly considered a god, a being with great power that is brave enough to save whole cities. The human qualities are always their greatest fault, it comes in the image of pride, ego, selfishness, and even denial. These flaws are represented by the heroes Gilgamesh and Oedipus. Gilgamesh and Oedipus undertake journeys in search of a truth that will preserve their glory. While Gilgamesh searches for immortality, Oedipus searches for a different fate, both, fearing death. However, only one reaches their their goal.

After reading The Epic of Gilgamesh, I have come to realize that Gilgamesh is not a hero, but a failure. His journey does not follow the traditional circular hero’s journey and he does not posses the traits that an admirable hero should have.

In The Epic of Gilgamesh a young man meets and befriends a wild man named Enkidu. Enkidu, once a man who lived among animals, became civilized after having sex with a female. From this point on Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s relationship start, but shortly into the novel Enkidu becomes sick and dies. This is the start to Gilgamesh journey in attempting to avoid death by seeking immortality. In his quest Gilgamesh meets several people all who assign different routes to the next person he should speak to. Eventually he comes up and meets Urshanabi; the ferryman who then takes him to Utnapishtim. Urshanabi explains to Gilgamesh how the Gods met up and decided to destroy mankind through a flood. Also how Utnapishtim was informed of this and he built a huge wooden boat where he would take the seed of many different species of animals. Utnapishtim does not believe he is worthy of the gift so challenges him to a task where Gilgamesh must stay awake for days, he fails the challenge. Instead Utnapishtim advises Gilgamesh to retrieve a plant on the bottom of the ocean that will restore youth to anyone who eats it. When Gilgamesh goes back home he showers and in the midst of it a snake eats the flowers he returns to the city empty handed but full of wisdom. His journey has taught him that although he cannot live forever the human species will remain to live as an immortal species as long as they reproduce.

As the world’s longest enduring hero, Gilgamesh defines the heroic archetype modern readers expect. Though he possesses strength, bravery, and honor, Gilgamesh’s journey to self-awareness clearly defines him as a hero when his other attributes fail to bring him victory. “In addition to being a hero, Gilgamesh is also a man, a king, and a god, and he must come to terms with these several identities” (Abusch 3) throughout the epic tale. Inspired by the wise Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh journeys into the unknown on a quest for “that which restores lost youth to a man.” (Sandars 27). He seeks the unattainable, and eventually finds it, but when a serpent “snatch[es] it away” (Sandars 27) he faces his own mortality. “Thus, Gilgamesh must come to terms with his own nature and learn to die, for he is both a man and a god, and as both he will experience loss and will die.” (Abusch 2). What is braver than facing one’s own mortality? Though the story of The Return in the Epic of Gilgamesh ends with Gilgamesh in tears, he remains a hero because he accepts who he is and continues onward. He says to Urshanabi, “Let us leave the boat on the bank and go,” and the epic continues (Sandars 27). Though a demi-god, Gilgamesh provides an heroic example of verisimilitude in his self-acceptance, and didactically encourages the reader to do the same.

Gilgamesh was a powerful king of Uruk an ancient city in Sumer now known as Iraq. Created by the gods, Gilgamesh was 2/3 god and 1/3 man he thought of himself as undefeatable, and carried himself immorally, taking advantage of his people. Being tired of this the people of Uruk began sobbing, and the goddess Aruru heard their cries and created Gilgamesh 's equal Enkidu. Together they would go on to venture into battles, one of which leads to the death of Enkidu that brings Gilgamesh to his very own journey to find immortality. This epic demonstrates the traits identified by the renown American psychologist Joseph Campbell in the story lines of the hero 's journey.