The Epic of Gilgamesh Analysis - Essay Example

They cannot do anything because he is the king who is at liberty to do anything he desires.

The gods recommended that Gilgamesh required a powerful, restless, and adventurous hero to be his friend and worthy opponent. Aruru, the womb goddess, decided to pick on Enkidu who lived in the wilderness amongst the animals, disturbing hunters and farmers. Therefore, one of the gods convinced Shamhat, a temple harlot, to make a civilized and humble man out of him by sleeping with him for one week. However, just after having the first taste of sex, Shamhat successfully manages to convince him to come and live in the temple. She promises to introduce her to some good friends and even teach him to live as a civilized human something that he accepts. Gilgamesh and Enkidu became great friends, and since that time, Gilgamesh became so committed to his duties as a king to extent that he turned down goddess Ishtar’s offer to sleep with her.

The power of women and sex, in this play, is also demonstrated when Gilgamesh turns down goddess Ishtar’s offer to sleep with her. In response, he asked Ishtar, “but how could I repay you as a wife and still avoid the bitterness and strife that follow you?” (Jackson, 36). This indicates how the gods and goddesses were highly powerful and any attempt to reject their demands would result in serious punishment. In this case, sex is used as a supreme demand that Gilgamesh has to accept. This is the reason why Ishtar released the bull to destroy the people of Uruk and it is what led to Enkidu’s death. This context is further used to change Gilgamesh’s attitudes and behaviors.