Enkidu's Friendship In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Friendship is one of important part in our lives. Most of the time, a good friend knows you better than yourself. There are many meanings that relay to being a good friend, especially because everyone does not have the same personality. Similarly, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, we can perceive several relationships, but the one between Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship plays an important part of the story. The story begins as Shamat the harlot seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh ().Gilgamesh is an oppressive king who used his power to hurt people and Enkidu is the king of the animals. Gilgamesh and Enkidu neither one ever had a friend that was a man before. Enkidu only knew steppe animals, and Gilgamesh, an oppressive king who had never treated anyone as his equal. As soon as Gilgamesh and Enkidu met each other, people of the city started to praise Enkidu because people of the city saw Enkidu was equal to Gilgamesh. This cause the fight between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in their first meeting. The fight between Gilgamesh and Enkidu made the people think that

Their friendship has become immediately strong. They call each other brother and decided to fight evil together. Throughout the fight against Humbaba until the death of Sublett 2 of Enkidu, they both were together. During their fight to Humbaba, Enkidu was physically hurt. As their friendship was very strong, one friend would help other when their weakness was obvious. An example would be when Ishtar sent Bull of Heaven down to kill Gilgamesh. To protect his friend Enkidu used his knowledge of animals to kill bull but unfortunately, it took his life. It is clearly showed the true friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. A true friend can give up his own life to save his friend’s life. Overall, the story portrays the short-lived friendship of Gilgamesh and