The Virtue In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Someone wise once said, “patience is a virtue.” Virtue is commonly considered to be incredibly moral behavior. By this, one can see that if a character is patient, then that character has virtue. Virtue can also be found in the way the one treats the people around them. Gilgamesh, the main character from the ancient Sumerian tale “Epic of Gilgamesh”, has neither patience nor virtue. Gilgamesh is not a virtuous character because he mistreats women and he is impatient. One thing that has always been agreed upon as the sign of a virtuous character is treating the people around in a kind and considerate manner. Gilgamesh, however, treats the people around him, especially women, like objects to be used at his discretion. Gilgamesh rapes women as shown on page 101, “Gilgamesh leaves no girl to her mother” (Putchner et al). This quote means that Gilgamesh forces women away from their mothers so that he can do what he wishes to them, also known as rape. Rape is one of the worst things someone can do to another person as it invades their body and leaves the victims with mental and emotional wounds that never truly heal. Gilgamesh is also shown to rape when the text mentions his use of prima nocta, or the right of the lord of the

When Gilgamesh decides that he wants to fight Humbaba, he refuses to listen to Enkidu’s worries and protests, “You [Enkidu] speak unworthily…I must set my hand to cutting a cedar tree,/I must establish eternal flame” (Putchner et al 111). This displays Gilgamesh’s impatience because he will not listen when his friend wants him to slow down and think about his choices. He refuses to stop when people ask him to nor will he think about anything else than what he wants to do. Gilgamesh’s impatience when asked to think about what he is doing showcases that he is not a virtuous