Theme Of Self-Discovery In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Part of the nature of the human experience is that we all strive to “find ourselves” and our place in this world. There are many different aspects of human nature that lead us through different paths of self-discovery in which we grow through our struggles, doubts, and even accomplishments. In the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, Dante depicts his spiritual journey through the nine circles of Hell to reach Heaven, in which he must confront and overcome his weaknesses to fully discover himself. In the Epic of Gilgamesh by Sin-Leqi-Unninni, Sin-Leqi-Unninni depicts Gilgamesh, a Sumerian king who is two-thirds god and one-third human, on a quest for immortality that ends up leading him on a journey of self-discovery. In the Epic of Gilgamesh

One of the most impactful characters is Enkidu, a wild man who is originally hostile and sent to challenge Gilgamesh, but eventually becomes his faithful companion. Through his interactions with Enkidu, Gilgamesh is able to confront his weaknesses and see the world from a new perspective. After Gilgamesh learns about Enkidu's death, he “took up his axe, he drew his sword, he shot his arrows and he called aloud: "Now come, you trappers, wives of trappers, you who set traps on the mountain, you who trap the wild beasts, you who have never known a house, come, and listen to the fate of Uruk's own shepherd, who left no son to his father's care, no child to his mother's hands," we can see the impact it has on him as he realizes the death of all things and the fleeting nature of life, which drives him to reflect on his own legacy and mortality (The Epic of Gilgamesh). Enkidu also teaches Gilgamesh “what it means to be human; he teaches him the meaning of love and compassion, the meaning of loss and of growing older, the meaning of mortality” which triggers the turning point in Gilgamesh's character development, leading him on a journey of self-discovery and growth

The challenges and locations that Gilgamesh will have to face during his journey to Utnapishtim "to see whether the plant exists, he will have to cross many difficult obstacles, he will have to cross scorching deserts and climb treacherous mountains" reflect the challenges that we all face as we try to grow and understand ourselves better (The Epic of Gilgamesh). The wilderness is depicted as a place of danger and uncertainty, but also as a place of freedom and possibility. Through his experiences in the wilderness, Gilgamesh is able to confront his own mortality and begin to question the purpose and meaning of his life. When Gilgamesh travels to the underworld in search of immortality, he is forced to confront the harsh realities of death and grapple with the limits of human power and understanding. The underworld thus represents the ultimate frontier of human knowledge and the ultimate challenge in the search for