The Epic of Gilgamesh shows and describe the journey of a successful hero. Throughout his quest, Gilgamesh goes through a departure, initiation, and a return stage. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu sets out to go on the heroic journey to defeat Humbaba he experiences the first departure stage. The initiation stage occurred when Enkidu died and Gilgamesh started the second heroic journey searching for immortality. Gilgamesh search for immortality was beyond the initiation stage he searched for it through every quest and journey he encountered. In the second initiation stage, Gilgamesh went through a significant amount of problems and hardships. The return stage occurred when Gilgamesh leaves his fantasy world and return to people back home with new knowledge and teachings. Utanapishtim's tale in (Tablet 11) of the great flood …show more content…
In tablet 11 he says, "...then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth." (29) Gilgamesh tried so hard to deny the power of death. Gilgamesh feels as if he can escape death, but little does he know this is all a lesson to be learn. Utnapishtim is giving Gilgamesh more of a test." The hero is in the "Atonement with the Father" stage especially when Utnapishtim speaks to Gilgamesh, "...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. He wanted to explain to him that grieving is not going to solve any of his issues. He wanted him to understand that only god live forever, humans does not. Gilgamesh is 2/3 God and 1/3 man he have such strange supernatural