Women, And Humanity In Enkidu's Journey

The Role of Women, Culture, Civilization, and Humanity in Enkidu’s Journey

Throughout history, societies have been defined by distinct traditions, customs, and values. While these cultural aspects shift over time, they define eras and peoples within them. In Herbert Mason’s verse narrative Gilgamesh, the era is approximately 2700 B.C., and the people are those of the Sumerian city-state of Uruk. In order to truly gain a comprehensive understanding of this society, dissecting the journey and experiences of Enkidu is paramount. While Enkidu may be written off as a only sidekick or friend of Gilgamesh, his journey contains much more than providing a catalyst for Gilgamesh’s personal growth. Originating as an outsider to Uruk and the norms of

In this simplistic lifestyle, he was accepted as part of a community and worked to protect it. For instance, it is said that Enkidu would release animals from traps set by hunters, demonstrating his commitment and respect for the wild and aversion towards aspects of the civilized world (Mason 16). However, his behavior of “[running] with the animals, / [drinking] at their springs,” and “not knowing fear or wisdom” leads to concern from the people of Uruk and is brought to Gilgamesh’s attention. Because Enkidu’s lifestyle “threatened the livelihood of men,” a prostitute by the name of Shamhat is sent to introduce Enkidu to the ways of civilization and humanity (17). In his process of becoming human and conforming to the ways of civilization, Shamhat slowly tears him away from his natural ecosystem. This process begins with sexual relations that result in the animals shunning Enkidu, and from there, he begins learning the ways of civilization, from customs to figures of Uruk. As he loses his animalistic tendencies and innocence, Shamhat teaches him how to dress, clothing him “in a portion / Of her scarlet robe,” introduces him to bread and liquor, and shaves and washes him, completing his physical transformation (20-21). His mental and emotional shift is symbolically noted in his protection of the shepherd's sheep from the lions and other

In the end, the conflict results in Enkidu’s killing of the Bull of Heaven, to which Enlil responds by killing Enkidu (46). As the situation evolved, Enkidu was told of his fate in the form of dreams, to which Gilgamesh gives negligible attention (36-38). The chain reactions of Enkidu’s introduction to civilization through his interaction with Shamhat to his friendship with Gilgamesh lead to his eventual demise. It is at this moment that realizations about what it means to be human come to light. Up until this point, Gilgamesh had considered himself almost invincible and had never come to terms with the ⅓ of him that was mortal. Enkidu realizes what it means to be human rather than animal and the complexities of humanity. In response to this, Enkidu curses “the hunter and the prostitute / Who had led him from his friends,” expressing the loss that he feels towards his previous life (47). At the same time, he is reminded by Shamash to appreciate the circumstances that led him to Gilgamesh, as his life was changed drastically by their unique bond. On his deathbed, Enkidu bitterly states that his pain is “because of her,” and that “She made me see / Things as a man, and a man sees death in things” (49). While this line continues the pattern of anger towards Shamhat, it also hints and the underlying theme of humanity and how