Gilgamesh's True Identity

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Trevor Dixon                                                                            Dixon 1

Mrs. Jessee

English 10

1 September 2004

Gilgamesh’s True Identity

        

Gilgamesh, who was made perfect physically, with all of the wisdom and secrets of the gods, shows he is not perfectly made on the inside as he struggles to find his true purpose and identity in the Epic of Gilgamesh.  He, who proves good at heart in the conclusion of the epic, does not know why he was created and is frustrated at his mortal third in his early life.  Made to bring strength and prosperity to the mortals of Uruk as an honorable king, Gilgamesh must first go on a journey to find out his true identity and mature along the way.  Whether it is for everlasting life, fame, or his desire to be king- Gilgamesh searches for his true identity and purpose throughout the epic, only to find it when he forgets his potential for greatness and gives up the search for fame.  

Gilgamesh feels trapped on the Earth, being one-third man and two-thirds god, and searches for immortality through the course of his quest to discover that it is not his destiny to live forever. Gilgamesh does not know who he meant to be at the start of his life.  Was he created to be a mortal or to earn his right to be a god?  He, frustrated to be in the middle of god and mortal with the world and death as his entrapment, begins his quest for immortality.  Gilgamesh believes that if he finds immortality he will become more god-like and discover his purpose.  Gilgamesh realizes that he was created greater than all mortals, but that if he cannot escape death then he ends up as a mortal in the end.  So from the time of his creation, Gilgamesh searches to find a way to overcome this looming shadow of mortal death.  Although

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he is told over and over that he will never become immortal (even by his best friend Enkidu), Gilgamesh never accepts this fact and constantly looks for immortality.  After Enkidu’s passing, Gilgamesh develops a fear for death, believing his fate will be like that of his friend.  When Siduri confronts Gilgamesh, he makes clear his overwhelming fear of death from Enkidu.

‘Because of my brother I am afraid of death, because of my brother I stray through the wilderness and cannot rest.  But now, young woman, maker of wine, since I have seen your face do not let me see ...

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