The Relationship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

self-worth, he no longer needs to sleep with every woman in sight. Enkidu emotionally satisfies Gilgamesh in ways that women cannot.“… Your lovers have found you like a brazier which smolders in the cold, a backdoor which keeps out neither squall of wind nor storm, which crushes the garrison, pitch that blackens the bearer, a water skin that chafes the carrier, a stone which falls from the parapet, a battering-ram turned back from the enemy, a sandal that trips the wearer." (Page 147) Considering Gilgamesh’s less than honorable past, it is ironic that he’s almost disgusted or rather disturbed by her past. Has the arrival of Enkidu and it’s character changing consequences on Gilgamesh lead to him thinking that in some way he is better than her because he had grown-out of his old ways? I believe that this situation proves that Gilgamesh is still the same man that he was before, just in a different form. As he continues ridiculing and embarrassing Ishtar, he is only digging himself a deeper and deeper hole, one from which Enkidu will not escape. After Gilgamesh’s speech, Ishtar is extremely angry and the only thing on her mind at that point is avenging her lost pride and revenge on the man that took it away. In order to do this, she sends down the Bull of Heaven, which kills Enkidu. Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s behaviors lead them both into destruction. Sometimes someone is so blinded by his or her own vanity and / or self-worth that they cannot see what their conscious is trying to make them see. In Enkidu’s case, he tries to listen to his consciousness (not wanting to kill Humbaba) but eventually he turns a blind eye and lets his fate be sealed by Gilgamesh’s vanity / desire to kill Humbaba for honor. Despite Gilgamesh’s extraordinary physical strength and leadership, the death of his mate has crippled him. Enkidu’s murder has changed Gilgamesh from arrogant to scared. The astounding amount of grief that Giglamesh feels eclipses the overwhelming pride that he had previously peacocked. Enkidu's death left Gilgamesh frightened and confused. The death greatly impacted Gilgamesh, most importantly making him terrified of his own death.Once Gilgamesh overcomes his grief, he decides to travel to Utnapishtim. During this trip, Gilgamesh discovers that there is a plant which restores a man’s youth. We can see the change in Gilgamesh’s character due to the fact that he says that once he returns to Uruk he will share the plant with his people ("I will take it to Uruk of the strong walls; there I will give it to the old men to eat"). Unfortunately for Gilgamesh, man is not destined to attain immortality so he was therefor unable to bring the plant back with him. “Gilgamesh, the once arrogant and overpowering king, was now thinking of the well being of his people.”[1]Is it love that binds our world together? From Gilgamesh’s story, it very well may be. Through Gilgamesh’s and Enkidu’s relationship, we see that in order to truly see ourselves, we must be able to see ourselves positively in the eyes of our lover, comrade, family member… “Like Gilgamesh, our fate is to travel the journey of life, to slay one who is evil with the help of our gods, to survive and mourn some of those we love, and leave the world with as many good deeds as possible.”[2] In other words, love does not save us, it cannot due to the fact that one’s destiny is sealed and embedded within us. The one thing that love can do is make the journey that much better. [1] "Message of Love in the Epic of Gilgamesh." 123HelpMe.com. 23 Sep 2011    <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=12549>. [2] "Message of Love in the Epic of Gilgamesh." 123HelpMe.com. 23 Sep 2011    <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=12549>.