The Epic of Gilgamesh - Essay Example

This book has been especially popular because of its theme of love, sex, despair and adventure that still relate with the people of today. This paper is a response to the Epic of Gilgamesh discussing the story, the tone, the setting and other such aspects of the book. Discussion In Gilgamesh, the King finds a companion in Enkidu. The story of both the men shows that soul mates are necessary in order for a person to truly bring a change in one’s personality. It is Enkidu that brings about good change in Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh would have remained the arrogant, selfish and tyrant king where it not for Enkidu who brought so many positive changes in the king. It is Gilgamesh who brings out various emotions from within me while reading the story. As the story moves on from Gilgamesh, the King to Gilgamesh, the wanderer, I as a reader felt many emotions towards the man. They ranged from anger to understanding and finally to sympathy. I believe that the story also managed to interest many generations over the years because it dealt with such contrasting emotions and that too from one person.

For me, I believe that I am a web of emotions; at times I am good and at times, I am bad and this depends a lot on the company I keep. On this count, I felt that I could relate with Gilgamesh because he also displayed a spectrum of emotions. Without Enkidu, he was an angry and spiteful king. However, on one aspect, I believe that I could not relate with Gilgamesh at all. I felt confused on that occasion. This was when Gilgamesh yearned for immortality after fighting such dangerous battles. Gilgamesh along with Enkindu went off to fight wars with monsters and demons.

When he went off to war, he was aware that he was risking their lives in the process. It was also possible that one of them may die at the hands of the monsters and yet he went off to wage the war. However, when Enkindu dies, Gilgamesh wants to achieve immorality. He does not wish to reunite with this soul mate but rather wishes to prolong his life on earth which would be filled with suffering given that Enkindu is no longer there to share the pleasures and sorrows of that life. This is at complete odds with concepts of love that I have till yet heard of.

In every story of love, lovers wish to die when their loved ones die or at least take revenge for the death of their loved ones. Gilgamesh felt no such emotions but rather he went off to search for immortality which in my opinion would have increased his suffering. Another aspect that I also felt at odds with the character of Gilgamesh was his complete transformation of character. I believe that one cannot change their basic character even if one really wants to. It slowly seeps back into the normality of one’s life.

Gilgamesh was a very cruel king and yet he completely transformed after he met with Enkidu. This, I believe, is not possible at all. A little of the original personality still remains in the person despite the change; I am saying this on account of my experiences in life till far. However, Gilgamesh completely transformed himself. He even spurred the advances of Goddess of Love, Ishtar who then asks her father to intervene and make the live of Gilgamesh and Enkindu miserable. Conclusion The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story worth reading because it is one of the oldest stories written by man and yet the theme of the story still seems fresh.

The main character in the story, Gilgamesh still