Blog Post #4: Epic of Gilgamesh
Courage, bravery, and compassion are the key pieces of what makes a hero a hero. It makes the person show concern for the people in need and risk their own lives to save others who are put in a dangerous situation. A hero could be firefighters who rescue the people that are trapped in a burning building, a police officer who stops a madman from hurting anyone, or a soldier who serves in the army to protect his/her country. These characteristics is what makes someone a hero, a brave person who puts others before themselves and protect them from harm.
The epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a powerful king of Uruk in Sumer that explores the themes of friendship and immortality. In the first half of the story, he was a cruel tyrant who was obsessed with power and abused his people. He starts off as a anti-hero, a person who lacks heroic characteristics including courage and morality. His actions towards his people is what makes him a villain instead of a hero, a callous person who is obsessed with power to abuse his citizens and assault whatever woman he yearns. Gilgamesh transitions into a considerate leader after he meets Enkidu, a hairy-chested man who becomes his faithful friend after the two wrestled. Enkidu helps Gilgamesh on his adventure to kill Humbaba and the wild bull who was sent from the heavens to get rid of the two men. Their friendship is what made Gilgamesh change into a better person to show compassion and empathy, to become a better king to his people he abused before.
Gilgamesh was a demi-god with robust strength and power with the ability to communicate with the gods and goddesses to aid him on his adventure. With Enkidu as his friend, their friendship is what developed the king to show courage and kindness. Enkidu is what drove Gilgamesh to change his inhumane behaviors and search for the meaning of immortality after his death. The meaning of the story teaches us how the powerful bond between the two evenly matched heroes can change by becoming brave and selfless leaders to care for the people in need. The story also teaches us how we deal with the death of a loved one since Gilgamesh and Enkidu respected each other as comrades and brothers. Enkidu's death affected Gilgamesh greatly that he lost a close friend he loved and was afraid of meeting the same fate. Gilgamesh went through his grief by leaving his kingdom to go on a quest to search for the secrets of immortality only to fail his tests to become an immortal god. Instead, he accepted his mortality and learned the meaning of death. He returns to his kingdom with newfound wisdom and focused on the needs of his people, creating a positive impact on his city.
Gilgamesh was considered noble for his personal achievements, his strength and power which the people in Sumerian city states think of him as a hero for his accomplishments. His bravery and courage for fighting against his enemies as well as the loss of his friend is what made Gilgamesh a stronger person to care for his people. Gilgamesh's contribution to his city impacted the people in Sumerian cities after his quest he is remembered as a noble hero with kindness and courage instead of a king who seeks power to oppress others. Kindness and love for others is what makes Gilgamesh a hero to be remembered since his legend lives on for his stories to be told.
Sources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/characteristics-of-heroism-2795943
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gilgamesh/themes/
https://education.seattlepi.com/made-gilgamesh-epic-hero-5172.html
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-main-theme-epic-gilgamesh-what-story-behind-101009
The epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a powerful king of Uruk in Sumer that explores the themes of friendship and immortality. In the first half of the story, he was a cruel tyrant who was obsessed with power and abused his people. He starts off as a anti-hero, a person who lacks heroic characteristics including courage and morality. His actions towards his people is what makes him a villain instead of a hero, a callous person who is obsessed with power to abuse his citizens and assault whatever woman he yearns. Gilgamesh transitions into a considerate leader after he meets Enkidu, a hairy-chested man who becomes his faithful friend after the two wrestled. Enkidu helps Gilgamesh on his adventure to kill Humbaba and the wild bull who was sent from the heavens to get rid of the two men. Their friendship is what made Gilgamesh change into a better person to show compassion and empathy, to become a better king to his people he abused before.
Gilgamesh was a demi-god with robust strength and power with the ability to communicate with the gods and goddesses to aid him on his adventure. With Enkidu as his friend, their friendship is what developed the king to show courage and kindness. Enkidu is what drove Gilgamesh to change his inhumane behaviors and search for the meaning of immortality after his death. The meaning of the story teaches us how the powerful bond between the two evenly matched heroes can change by becoming brave and selfless leaders to care for the people in need. The story also teaches us how we deal with the death of a loved one since Gilgamesh and Enkidu respected each other as comrades and brothers. Enkidu's death affected Gilgamesh greatly that he lost a close friend he loved and was afraid of meeting the same fate. Gilgamesh went through his grief by leaving his kingdom to go on a quest to search for the secrets of immortality only to fail his tests to become an immortal god. Instead, he accepted his mortality and learned the meaning of death. He returns to his kingdom with newfound wisdom and focused on the needs of his people, creating a positive impact on his city.
Gilgamesh was considered noble for his personal achievements, his strength and power which the people in Sumerian city states think of him as a hero for his accomplishments. His bravery and courage for fighting against his enemies as well as the loss of his friend is what made Gilgamesh a stronger person to care for his people. Gilgamesh's contribution to his city impacted the people in Sumerian cities after his quest he is remembered as a noble hero with kindness and courage instead of a king who seeks power to oppress others. Kindness and love for others is what makes Gilgamesh a hero to be remembered since his legend lives on for his stories to be told.
Sources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/characteristics-of-heroism-2795943
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gilgamesh/themes/
https://education.seattlepi.com/made-gilgamesh-epic-hero-5172.html
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-main-theme-epic-gilgamesh-what-story-behind-101009
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