Epic Of Gilgamesh Hero's Journey

Psychological triggers and their role in self-discovery as examined in The Epic of Gilgamesh Epics are most often characterized by a flawed hero’s journey or quest to fulfill a fleshly desire, but instead fulfills the hero’s need for wisdom. Likewise, The Epic of Gilgamesh can be characterized by Gilgamesh’s self-realization of humanity and mortality, discovered by both Gilgamesh and the reader through his quests for fame and immortality. He embarks on two separate journeys. The first journey, the slaying of Humbaba for eternal fame, is the first step of his transformation from a divine and selfish ruler to a very much humbled and wise human one, setting off a series of events that lead him to his second journey, a quest for immortality. The

From the time he and Enkidu first meet to the time of Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh’s life goal is to gain fame: “If I fall on my way, I’ll establish my name,” (Tablet II, line 183). His carelessness for little else is evidenced in the way he dismisses Enkidu’s concerns regarding the danger of their first quest. “How you pule! You make me ill. / I must establish my eternal fame,” (Tablet II, lines 189, 191). He continues to risk his life for this “eternal fame,” even though he has a name that is known throughout the entire world (Tablet II line 207). These lines show how close Gilgamesh is to his divine heritage at the beginning of the epic; he shares their thirst for praise. Even though the gods literally hunger for it, Gilgamesh pines for it just as badly. He acknowledges that death can befall him, but he places his narcissist desires before his fear of it. Because Gilgamesh places fame before both his and beloved Enkidu’s safety, it’s safe to conclude that love is not the determining factor at play. Note the interesting role that love plays in this epic; “While Enkidu was seated before her, /Each was drawn by love to the other,” (Tablet I, lines 1-2). Whereas Gilgamesh is mostly unaffected by love, still retaining his god-like arrogance, Enkidu allows it love

Before the creation of Enkidu, Gilgamesh has no earthly match: “He was harrying the young men beyond reason. /Gilgamesh would leave no son to his father, /Day and night he would rampage fiercely,” (Tablet I, lines 59-61). His demigod nature and ordained kingship made him arrogant and a burden upon his people. He ruled them “like a wild bull” according to his wavering desires. Because he was not limited in the ways his human subjects were, he became insensitive to their pain and thinking himself invincible. Enkidu parallels Gilgamesh in that they were equal; “Let them contend with each other, that Uruk may have peace,” (Tablet I, line 90). Enkidu became the only earthly match for Gilgamesh. You can note that it’s almost metaphorical in nature. When considering one of the overall themes of the poem, man versus fate[death], and the makeup of these two men, Gilgamesh, being two-thirds god and one-third human, and Enkidu, being half animal, half human, both contentions end with the same conclusion: no matter how strong[divine] you are, you cannot outdo nature. In fact, Enkidu may have had greater strength than even Gilgamesh; it is said that his strength was like that of heaven (Tablet I, line 289). It’s for this reason that the death of Enkidu creates a mortal crisis within Gilgamesh, “Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu,” (Tablet IX, line 3). Not only did he just lose a loved one in death, but the bond between