Art History - Gilgamesh Since Term Paper

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The poem shows him as a harsh ruler, very rude to people and a lady's man. This behavior stirs the gods against him and god Aruru creates Enkidu, a wild creature, to be the rival of Gilgamesh and punish him for all his bad deeds. The two characters fight, but in the end, they become friends. On a deeper analysis of the text of this poem, Enkidu may be perceived as the human part of Gilgamesh, and their fight as an inner fight between mortality and immortality. In the end, mortality is accepted and poise is re-established.

Enkidu appears like an innocent and humble creature, ready to follow his friend in the most dangerous fights. He is very courageous, ready to sacrifice. Even from the beginning, there is a very powerful bond between the two. Despite the fact that they are different, they create a whole new being together, this time with traits that belong more to the human rather than the god side. Gilgamesh is an arrogant, hot-tempered person, while Enkidu is warm, spontaneous and simple. It is very difficult to see who has stronger features, and which one of them is more interesting a character. The main idea is that these two characters were created to build unity together.

Before he met Enkidu, Gilgamesh was lonely, but he didn't even realize that. By meeting Enkidu, he discovers a new person in himself.
With Enkidu by his side, Gilgamesh feels the need to share feelings for the first time. Now he feels the need to grow and surpass his own limits. His new friend places himself somewhere else but in the center of his own universe. From now on, he starts to concentrate more on the outside world than on his needs and pleasures.

It is very interesting to follow how the poem develops ideas like two entities that can only form together a unique an complete new entity, how deep the meanings of this old poem are, and how complex the traits of its characters. In "Gilgamesh," characters grow, learn, rediscover themselves, and sometimes the sense of the world, feeling born allover again. Enkidu, becomes a friend for life. After being enemies before the fight, they surrender their weapons, and become one soul.

The two friends face great challenges and go on long journeys together. "They had traveled for just three days and nights, a six weeks' journey for ordinary men." BOOK IVp105 discovery

The people give Gilgamesh advices about the journey: / "Do (not) trust in your own strength, Gilgamesh / Keep a clear eye; guard yourself. /.....

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"Art History - Gilgamesh Since", 31 January 2007, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/art-history-gilgamesh-since-40333