The Role of Enkidu Essay - 1064 Words

Epics are characterized by longevity of text, a poetic style, and an account of the accomplishments of a legendary hero. Herbert Mason’s interpretation of an extract of the Epic of Gilgamesh lacks a large amount of text and the legendary hero so common in later epics such as Odyssey and Beowulf. Because the later epics are considered to be based on the Epic of Gilgamesh it is important to consider why, in Mason’s translation, is there a lack of an impressive amount of text and of a legendary hero. While it is effortless to attribute the missing characteristics of the story to the translation, the events of the story suggest that Masons translation could have been more extensive. In lieu of the suggestion, Mason incorporates Enkidu into†¦show more content†¦It is clear that the physical confrontation is also a fight between the good and evil inside of Gilgamesh. The physical fight is described as if two animals are involved, â€Å"they fell like wolves at each others throats, like bulls bellowing, and horses gasping for breath that have run all day† (Mason 23). The confrontation also ends the series of events leading to the friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Gilgamesh comes to a realization after seeing himself within Enkidu. Enkidu is the good in Gilgamesh. He fights Gilgamesh not because he sees him as a challenge to his authority but because he has an innate reaction to defend his pride. When Gilgamesh looks into Enkidus eyes, perhaps he learns that he to must begin to defend his pride, his people, and he becomes a protector for Uruk. A longstanding Indian proverb says, â€Å"there are two wolves in the soul of the person, good and evil, constantly fighting. Which will win? The one that you feed.† Gilgamesh feeds the good wolf as he enters the defense of his subjects, and neglects the evil wolf, leaving his past tyranny behind. After Gilgamesh becomes a protagonist in Part I, he faces two enemies, Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh overcomes a fear of the unknown, as he travels through the forest of Humbaba to seek his adversary. Enkidu exaggerates the fear of the unknown, to test Gilgameshs ability to triumph over the internal struggle of trepidation, Enkidu was afraid of the forest of Humbaba And urgedShow MoreRelatedRelationship Between Ninsun And The Loving Mother Of Gilgamesh1329 Words   |  6 Pagesshe interprets Gilgamesh’s dream â€Å"Soon you will meet him, the companion of your heart. Your dream has said so† (Mitchell 84). As Ninsun reveals what Gilgamesh’s dream mean, she paves a path for the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The companionship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is essential in Gilgamesh’s quest to find eternal life, for it is the loss of his beloved companion that forces Gilgamesh to realize his fate as a mortal man and gives him a reason to desire immortality. The interactionRead MoreAnalysis Of Enkidu s The Epic 849 Words   |  4 Pages Enkidu’s role in the epic explores the idea that humans cultivation of the earth to suit their own needs will lead to their demise. Enkidu was depicted as androgynous to allow the reader to see themselves in the journey and allows the narrator more flexibility. Enkidu was described as â€Å"lush with head hair like a woman†. Gilgamesh recounted a dream to his mother saying, â€Å"I fell in love with it like a woman I caressed it†. The use of the word â€Å"it† can imply gender is disregarded and allows the narratorRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : The Goddess Aruru, The Temple Prostitute, And The Unnamed Bride1206 Words   |  5 Pagesinsight into the culture of the Sumerians in the time of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The goddess Aruru exemplifies that, despite being a deity, all women were subjected to certain constraints based solely on their gender and societal norms. Shamhat demonstrates that women held various functional roles in society, including roles within religion and religious practices. Finally, the unnamed bride is the most essential woman to reveal gender roles in Sumerian society; her presence in the epic defines several functionsRead MoreEnkidu The Noble Savage Analysis929 Words   |  4 PagesIn the article â€Å"Enkidu – the Noble Savage?†, the authors Aage Westenholz and Ulla Koch-Westenholz examine the characteristics of Enkidu. They mention that not many people actually delve into Enkidu because they only recognize Enkidu as Gilgamesh’s friend. However, the authors realize that there is more to Enkidu than just Gilgamesh’s friend, and they mention that he is also seen by some as a â€Å"noble savage† and even an undeveloped subhuman. For the next few pages, they analyze the text and whatRead More The Influence of Women in Epic of Gilgamesh Essay580 Words   |  3 Pagessocial scene of the times it was written in. The characters of Enkidu and Gilgamesh are strong males. The roles of women in Gilgamesh are submissive and subtle. Women in this ancient Sumerian tale tend to be passive, but capable of influencing the outcome of events. Enkidu is a mighty force to confront. He is so strong that he is seen as a wild animal in his first appearances in the book. Gilgamesh is as strong or even stronger than Enkidu. He is the king of Uruk and is part god and part man. TheseRead MoreGender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay679 Words   |  3 PagesGender Roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh In the Epic of Gilgamesh, gender plays a very significant role. While women were not the most powerful gods nor the strongest or wisest of humans, they still had tremendous influence. Though the main characters of the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu, are male, women did not play a necessarily minor role. With all the women that play a role in the Epic of Gilgamesh, gender is a topic worthy of discussion. The obvious role of men in the Epic of GilgameshRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh Essay1245 Words   |  5 Pagesking of Uruk, and the man created by the Gods to both complement and challenge his nature: Enkidu. Each of the three dream sequences in the epic represent different stages of Enkidu’s life – one portends his birth, another foretells the actions that will ultimately lead to his demise, and the final predicts his death. In the Epic of Gilgamesh dreams are utilized as a tool to develop and complete Enkidu’s role in the story; these dreams are the driving force of Enkidu’s life cycle in that they not onlyRead MoreRelationship Between Gilgamesh And Enkidu1362 Words   |  6 PagesGilgamesh and Enkidu In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the paths of two extremely different men converge and propel them on a journey to become of the most legendary duos in literary history. Fate, it would have it, destined them to collide and satiate their desire for companionship. Enkidu and Gilgamesh are a complementary match. Many factors contribute to the significance of this relationship and what each stood to gain from the other. Before Enkidus creation, Gilgamesh wasnt a pleasant king. HeRead MoreRoles Of Gilegosh And The Power Of Women In Gilgamesh1440 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough women seem to play a less apparent role, women are essential for both the continuation of life and the nurturing of the future, signifying that the power of women is very potent. The women of Gilgamesh are goddesses, priestesses and a variety of other roles, each with their own set of skills, guide Gilgamesh throughout the epic. Despite the perception of some scholars that the women of Gilgamesh appear inferior, the women have diverse and influential roles throughout the story, challenging theRead MoreGilgamesh And The Epic Of Gilgamesh988 Words   |  4 PagesThe maturation of Gilgamesh and his desire to acquire wisdom throughout his journey is quite apparent. By overcoming difficulties such as upholding Uruk, becoming friends with Enkidu, and various other scenarios, Gilgamesh proves that he did in fact grow up throughout the epic. As the epic starts, Gilgamesh is portrayed as a self-centered, self-admiring leader who believes that he is the only individual that can lead the city of Uruk. Gilgamesh believes that he is a god-like figure and often refers