Relationship between The Epic of Gilgamesh or The Canterbury Tales - Essay Example

The real story begins with the introduction of Enkidu into the story. As a young man and a young god, Gilgamesh felt no compassion for the people of Uruk. He sees himself only as their king and perceived that the position entitled him to kill the sons and rape the daughters of those he govern. Hearing the people's wails, the gods created Enkidu as a match for Gilgamesh to act as a second self. The plan was effective in several ways. First, Enkidu prevented Gilgamesh from entering the house of a bride and bridegroom; they fought and then embrace as friends.

Secondly, Enkidu and Gilgamesh undertook a journey into the forest to face up the terrible Humbaba. In that journey, they encouraged each other to face death triumphantly. Though eternal life was not his destiny, Gilgamesh left behind him a name that did endure. The immortality of a name is not about the ability to live forever but rather, it is about the ability to die. Enkidu, most importantly, taught Gilgamesh the true meaning of being human wherein he also learned the true meanings of love and compassion, as well as other human experiences of loss, getting old and most importantly, the true meaning of mortality. . The instrumentation of a springtime pilgrimage gave Chaucer a diversified range of characters and experiences, wherein he acted both as a narrator and an observer.

Each tale was a story from each traveler. During Chaucer's time, England as a nation was undergoing both social and economic growth. Medieval influences were factors that were very dominant in the lives of Englishmen at that point. However, the Renaissance have, by then taken on a definite form and was on the verge of entering the modern world phase. Medieval Europeans declared that the ideals of spiritual community, social groups and national interests were far more significant than individualism.

In this time, there were many materialization of uprising against the old order of things which includes an inflow of mysticism and materialism. People needed to have more voice in the affairs of their government and viewed the Catholic Church as corrupt. An emergent religious reform which set importance on individualism and national patriotism, along with the increase of manufacturing and commerce, gave rise to the English middle class. The Canterbury Tales is a piece of writing that deals with the personal interests and solutions of an developing Medieval society.

In Medieval Europe pilgrimages were typically underwent for personal reflection, penance, and spiritual renewal. Chaucer selected the framework of a pilgrimage for it is naturally credible for a diversity of people and mix of reverent purpose and holiday spirit. Chaucer's own genial and delicate social position among the aristocracy led him to never articulate moral judgments. He uses cross-sectional society characters for those he wrote about in his pilgrims. He maintained a conservative and conventional point of view in the aspects of political