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Epic Of Gilgamesh Feminist Analysis

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In the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh, there is a lot of feminist traits and gender criticism present. The female characters except for Ninsun are looked at to be vile and seductive beings. Shamhat and Ishtar, the goddess of love and fertility, were two characters that was overlooked and decided to be considered bad people based on actions they took. Shamhat is a prostitute that seduced Enkidu and became the reason he strayed away from his animal state. “There he is, Shamhat, open your embrace” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 42) He was superman and she became his kryptonite. Ishtar is the goddess of love and fertility. She did not have the best character and chose vengeance over the feeling of being neglected. Both of these characters are main females …show more content…

Shamhat and Ishtar are seen to me based on the readings as the world’s desires, whether they are moral and unmoral, that get to people in rough times. Since Ishtar failed, Gilgamesh is seen to me as the good man who sees through lies and deceit. Shamhat passed in her goal, so Enkidu is seen has the man who falls for what life throws at you. Shamhat’s meaning was to open up Enkidu’s eyes to the world and so he could see what was going on more clearly through sexual acts. “For six days, seven nights Enkidu was aroused and flowed into Shamhat” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 45) Ishtar meaning was to make Gilgamesh marry her and use him for her selfish intentions. Both women went into their plan of seduction with different mindsets. Now, Ishtar and Shamhat also differ from the good and bad spectrum. Ishtar showed herself to be cruel and very vengeful because things didn’t go the way she wanted. She wanted to make Gilgamesh pay which evidentially led to him fighting the Bull of Heaven and Enkidu’s death. “Well then, Father pretty please, the Bull of Heaven, So I can kill Gilgamesh on his home ground” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 64) Shamhat showed that she was a prostitute, but still had feelings that eventually came out for Enkidu. She was shown to have a heart for Enkidu and began to care deeply about

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Enkidu balances out Gilgamesh and acts as a foil in the epic. I think the two traits best represented in the epic are Enkidu’s wisdom and will to not fight and Gilgamesh’s passion for battle. These traits are shown in the epic when the elders describe the two characters stating,

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(p. 8, lines 188-202) After he has sex with Shamhat, Enkidu lost his innocence and is not welcomed back into his herd. He gets “reason and a wide understanding.” (5)

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Ishtar threatens Anu, and Anu becomes terrified, and renders to her. Ishtar leads Gugalanna to Uruk, and it causes far-flung devastation. It lowers the level of the Euphrates River and dries the marshes up. It opens immense pits that absolutely devour 300 men. Without any providential aid, Enkidu and Gilgamesh attack and slay it, and offer its heart to Shamash.

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The Odyssey by Homer contains multiple moments where female characters are oppressed or fit into a patriarchy, but there are several moments where these character show signs of rebellion against this oppression. Applying a critical lense of feminism to these characters and relationships create complexities and conflicts within the novel that shine meaning on the world. The character Penelope offers many of these moments. Analyzing the actions, situation, and comparisons with other characters using a the feminist critical lense will show a more enriched version of Penelope and offer a deeper insight of the patriarchy, and how is affects the world.

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Enkidu is forced into civilization after being disowned by nature for sleeping with Shamhat. We see him transformed from a wild beast into a civilized person. As we follow Enkidu’s transformation, we see how he changes for the better, but also experiences some downfalls. The transition was not smooth, it took time to fully adjust, and although there are many disadvantages of leaving the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, the benefits made it worthwhile. Through Enkidu’s exposure to Gilgamesh, he changes from a human that lives among nature, to this great warrior that is willing to kill beasts for no other reason, but glory.

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Later then he was no longer accepted by the wild animals and he joined civilization in the city of Uruk. But Shamash, who is singled out and protected by a god is blessed by Enkidu. “Woman I promise you another destiny. The mouth which curse shall bless you”. Even a prostitute woman is given much praise and position in the story of Gilgamesh.

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The Epic of Gilgamesh conveys numerous themes. Among those are the inevitability of death, the eminence of the gods, and strikingly the importance of love as an impetus. Love, defined in a consummate sense is intimacy, passion, and commitment. These traits are exemplified in Gilgamesh and Enkidu's relationship, and they are also implied between Enkidu and Sham hat. Despite the violent and abrasive nature of the happenings of this text, love is displayed blatantly throughout.

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In the story Gilgamesh by Stephen Mitchell, I have learned that women was recognize as powerful objects. The story tells me in ancient Mesopotamia that men based their perspective on women for what we have and not our mind set. The women in the story are mention when you first open the books and is continue throughout the entire story line. The first woman was a prostitute name Shamhat, who was sent on a mission to change the life of a beast named Enkidu. In the story, Gilgamesh called Shamshat “one of the priestesses who give their bodies to any man, in honor of the goddess” (p.12).

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In this essay I will discuss the interactions of nature relating to Enkidu, dreams and gods. As in the epic they are portrayed as obstacles for Gilgamesh. Natures onward movement seems extremely linked with the character of Enkidu. Enkidu was created as a wild man, he had “long hair like a woman’s.”

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The gods punish the two heroes by ending Enkidu’s life and leave Gilgamesh behind. After twelve days of suffering, he dies in a slow, inglorious death (62). Enkidu represents the wildness in humanity. After his journey with Gilgamesh, he becomes civilized, more mature and closer to humanity. Enkidu was afraid of confronting Humbaba, but because of their friendship he overcomes his fear (29).

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Symbolism in general is the building blocks to all sources of literature and can shape a piece of writing in many ways. Symbols in general can portray what something or someone represents, giving a deeper and metaphorical meaning to a symbol. Symbolism is often used within poetry, literature, music, or even art. This is how an author conveys a different meaning to the audience. For example artists may use the color “red” not only because of the color theory, but to convey love, passion, and maybe even health.

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Enkidu’s friendship makes Gilgamesh calm and helps him to become a better king. Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu kiss and hug each other frequently. After conflicts between the two, they kissed and formed friendship. But Gilgamesh is never seen sleeping with a woman after conflict, and he even rejected Ishtar, the principal goddess of Uruk. “Come, Gilgamesh, be you my bridegroom!

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However, this leads to the epitome of childish behavior from the divine goddess Ishtar when she makes advances at Gilgamesh and is insulted by him about her treatment of past lovers and she goes to her father Anu and request the mighty bull of heaven so she may “… kill Gilgamesh on his home ground” (64). Since Gilgamesh is merely a man modern beliefs would indicate he would not prevail, but by joining forces with Enkidu they dispatch the bull easily. Though Anu conceded and gave Ishtar the bull only after her pleading he changes his opinion of Enkidu and Gilgamesh and he decides that one of them must die. Shamash the god who originally sent the two to slay Humbaba which ultimately resulted in Ishtar wanting to be with Gilgamesh defends the pair and is accused by Enlil of being their friend and not a

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