Enkidu's Relatable Character In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Throughout the story, The Epic of Gilgamesh, significant themes contrast modern and ancient literature. Gilgamesh is a very complex character within the novel, he is seen as sympathetic as well as arrogant. Showing through his search for immortality and his experience of grief and loss with Enkidu, he is also recognized as rude with his disregard towards others throughout his journeys. Gilgamesh is a very relatable character for many, as he experiences many similar emotions, but he also makes decisions that make him less relatable. The complexity of Gilgamesh is extensive, the extent to which he is a recognizable character depends majorly on the outlook of his decision-making and how the reader perceives his true meaning of life and emotions.

Later, experiencing the burden of a lost loved one, Gilgamesh expresses his capacity for love and displays his sympathetic characteristics. The friendship with Enkidu causes an important shift in Gilgamesh's persona. Their friendship transformed one another for the better, Enkidu allowed Gilgamesh to become vulnerable unlike he had ever before, proving that he could be a relatable figure. After Enkidu is gone, Gilgamesh is impacted to no return, emitting similar emotions that anyone with a serious tragedy would. Furthermore, the reaction from Gilgamesh's response to loss is accurate. The development of his character becomes a main principle. Instead of fending for himself only, he demands the people of Uruk to appreciate the life of his friend. As his tears flowed, “Gilgamesh issued a proclamation through the land, he summoned them all, the coppersmiths, the goldsmiths, the stone workers, and commanded them, make a statue of my friend”(Epic of Gilgamesh 96). As time passes, his emotional journey is to be noticed, as this is unfamiliar to Gilgamesh and he is entering an unknown stage in his