Gilgamesh quest to Utnapishtimis not only to escape his death, but also an experiance of life. Gilgamesh learns that no one person can escape death. He was bothered by the fact that only gods had eturnal lives. Enkidu tells him not to go to battle with with Humbuba. They tell each other life is to short and the fame is the only thing that last forever.
Gilgamesh is somewhat bitter with the fact that only gods are able to live forever. When he thinks about death he is very uncomfortable because he feels that he is a mighty warrior of a man and the only thing that will ultimately end him is death. We also see how the death of his beloved friend Enkidu drives him to the edge of the earth in attempt to prolong or completely liberate himself from the same fate. This is a valuable lesson for mankind throughout history. No matter what you may feel or become in the
This story talks about the subject of death so much that it tell us how to live on after it, through your legacy. As Enkidu dies Gilgamesh is reminded of his own mortality and goes on a journey to find everlasting life. During this journey many people, such as Siduri and Utnapishtim, remind him to enjoy what little life he has left but he doesn’t listen. Gilgamesh would rather keep living in the physical world than leave with his legacy left behind because he’s scared that he will be forgotten. After his long journey he finally accepts his fate and becomes King of Uruk yet
Gilgamesh’s self awareness that he eventually acquires greatly mirrors Socratics’ belief about death; that death is out of our hands, so we might as live well and examine our lives until we are
You have toiled without cease, and what have you got! Through toil you wear yourself out, you fill your body with grief, your long lifetime you are bringing near(to a premature end)!... No one can see death, no one can see the face of death, no one can hear the voice of death, yet there is a savage death that snaps off mankind.” (Tab.X, PG. 25) Utnapishtim attempts to speak knowledge into Gilgamesh about rebirth and how he cannot escape death.
In the excerpt from the Epic of Gilgamesh, a quote that summarizes their views on mortal life nicely is “… for this too is the lot of man” (94). Which basically means that this is just the way the gods meant for mortals to live. To be mortal
The hero Gilgamesh, passed through various tests and turns out better for it. For at the beginning the epic the king appears in the form of an unbridled, corrupted and cruel young man, then after the death of Enkidu, he is finally capable of a heartfelt deep sorrow. For the first time he becomes aware of the futility of existence, feeling the fear of the death, the hero of the poem turns to the gods to find out the secrets of life and death. From now on, Gilgamesh cannot simply rule his people, he wants to know the secret of death. His soul comes to complete despair: how could the immortal power and energy in the body of Enkidu die?
A Hero’s Quest for Immortality Gilgamesh, just like any other heroes, receives a vision from the gods pertaining to his fate, “The father of the gods has given you kingship, such is your destiny, everlasting life is not your destiny.” It makes no sense at first but as the story progress, we found out that Gilgamesh was never meant to live eternal life. The quest for immortality is a common theme in mythologies. Heroes undergo challenges against gods and supernatural creatures in order to get the desired item that would restore one’s youth.
