Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk. He is two-thirds god and one-third man but is still mortal. In the beginning, he is egotistical, strong, a bad king, and has no morals when it comes to the treatment of his people. He rapes women and beats men. The gods create Enkido to answer his people's prayers. Gilgamesh's number one goal is to make a name for himself and become a part of history; therefore, he is living forever by word of mouth. In this way Gilgamesh represents the social importance of fame and honor in a name. He convinces Enkido to go on a journey to fight Humbaba. They succeed and Gilgamesh now has someone to share the glory with. But after defeating the Bull of Heaven, Enkido is picked to die as punishment for killing it. Before he dies, Enkido has a dream about the afterlife. In his dream, this place is very dark, boring, and dusty. Mesopotamian culture feared the afterlife because no matter what you did on earth or who you were, everyone ended up in the same, terrible place. They believed there was nothing after death. Perhaps they had this pessimistic
The Mesopotamian culture valued good leadership skills that are the same characteristics that Gilgamesh acquires. Through Enkido, Gilgamesh realizes many things about himself. She tells him to enjoy life because that is the only chance he has at happiness. Through Gilgamesh's acceptance of fate and mortality, he receives fame after death. He goes through twelve leagues of darkness. Then Enkido dies and Gilgamesh now has to deal with being alone again. His death provokes the fear of death in Gilgamesh. They believed that the gods create journeys or obstacles in order to gain understanding and values. Gilgamesh realizes that there is more to life than fame. view because they had traumatic lives on earth. He wants to take the plant back to his village and give it to the old men so the city can profit from their knowledge for years to come. During his journey, he gains knowledge and awareness that makes him a better king. He tries to regain his lost companion through himself by wondering the wilderness alone and behaving like his old friend once did. He loves Enkido and values companionship and friendship instead of just guts and glory.
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