Journal about gilgamesh character - Essay Example

There is an infinite continuity of meaning that can be comprehended only by seeing again, for ourselves. We read stories – and reading is a kind of re-telling – not to learn what is known but to know what cannot be known, for it is ongoing and we are in the middle of it” (Brown, 1996). In other words, by reading other people and how they’ve answered these problems, we can make better decisions based on the character’s successes and failures. Some stories work better as examples or warnings than others.

A good example of this kind of story is the Epic of Gilgamesh. In his story, Gilgamesh is not able to achieve enlightenment until he transforms his spirit even though outwardly he is the example for his society. Gilgamesh is introduced as the strongest and best of all God-kings who ever lived. He is considered to be two-thirds God and only one-third human which means he has been given everything desirable in a man – he is good-looking, is rich in worldly goods, he is very strong and very courageous.

As he goes through life, he accomplishes great things like building grand temples and palaces, but these are accomplished only because he is so cruel to his people. He forces them to continue working on his personal projects that make him look good instead of allowing them to work on things that will provide them with needed shelter. He is not interested in helping other people and cares so little about the feelings of others that he regularly rapes women he finds attractive, regardless of who they are, how old or experienced they are or whether they are in private.

“Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother / The daughter of the warrior, the bride of the young man” (Tablet 1). To counter Gilgamesh’s evil behavior, the goddess Aruru creates Enkidu who is Gilgamesh’s opposite in every way. Enkidu is wild, but he is caring