In the Epic, Gilgamesh, is searching for immortality. This want came from the death of his beloved friend, Enkidu, which is the major turning point in the story.

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Pham

Andrew Pham

Andy Nicholson

English 231 Sec 1025

8 March 2012

Gilgamesh and Mortality

        In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the subject of fame and mortality come up quite a bit, it is the drive and reason the main characters in the story fight and live for. In the Epic, Gilgamesh, is searching for immortality. This want came from the death of his beloved friend, Enkidu, which is the major turning point in the story. From that moment on, the story shows the development and wisdom Gilgamesh gains throughout the epic. Provided, a quote, with the theme of mortality is of significance in The Epic of Gilgamesh, with that, there is a development of his character, view of mortality, and the relationship of fame and death throughout the text.

        One quote in the text that is of significance in relation to Enkidu’s death was said by Gilgamesh:

        “I am going to die! —am I not like Enkidu?!

        Deep sadness penetrates my core, I fear death, and now roam the wilderness—” (9. 2-4.)

 The quote shows Gilgamesh’s grief as he is shouting his sadness within Enkidu’s wild origins. It also shows the turning point in the story as it is developing Gilgamesh’s character for the rest of the story and his new view of mortality. At first this terrifies him about death and makes him search for immortality even more, but will develop by the end of the story. Gilgamesh’s response to Enkidu’s death with this quote shows that from the death of his friend he is grieving and has a sense of absence. In his grief it seems as if a part of him wants to go with Enkidu as well and to cling onto the essence of what once a best friend. Something else also happens to Gilgamesh, as for the first time, he understands—not just an idea—that he will die, the definitive moment that marks him as a human.

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        Gilgamesh’s character starts to grow after the death of Enkidu, he now fears death and wants to find immortality. He embarks on a long and tiresome journey to go where no mortal has gone before. After going through many battles and tests he does not get the immortality he was looking for, instead he gains wisdom that the greatest immortality is the nonphysical. Instead, it is the story and legacy that he has left behind and how one man has lived his life. Gilgamesh’s goal of reaching immortality with Enkidu was actually achieved. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh grieves deeply and ...

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