Heroism and Gilgamesh
People are fascinated by tales of heroism. Heroes give people hope and comfort, fill them with strength, and, most of all, never let their audience down in the end. Mythology is filled with tales of heroes- mighty warriors battling monsters, men ready to risk life and limb to save their true love or to fight for their nation. Even those heroes who do not necessarily participate in violent combat are inspiring, such as Moses who ascends the mountain and returns with the information on how to start a new society. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero does not begin as much of a hero despite the fact that he is able to battle ferocious beasts. Gilgamesh's true heroism does not become apparent until he is forced to partake in a journey to find himself. The difficulty lies in defining what a hero truly is. Strength alone does not make a hero; nor does intelligence. A question that readers must ask themselves is, what constitutes a hero? The hero's journey can be divided into four parts, according to Joseph Campbell: departure, on the way, fulfillment, and return. This journey does not always take place in the physical world, as often heroes are forced to partake in a spiritual journey as well. Upon de
The next step of the hero's quest is the journey itself. In many cultures, marriage is viewed as the final step toward maturity, yet Gilgamesh refuses to take that step. Upon Gilgamesh's return, he begins to seek immortality through great works rather than eternal youth. College students face numerous struggles every day. College itself is like Gilgamesh's maturation journey. This can be reached by slaying a seemingly unconquerable foe, such as Odysseus did when he defeated the boar, or by simply coming to a realization of his true role in life, such as Gilgamesh. The king sets out to find Utnapishtim, who survived the great flood and has achieved eternal life. To counteract Gilgamesh's brash behavior, the gods create Enkidu, a man who is the opposite of Gilgamesh. " Gilgamesh fails the test, proving that strength and vigor are not enough to combat death. I, too, am very afraid of "growing up. The obstacles are often characterized as monsters, dragons, and people who wish to cause the hero harm and end his journey. The story displays Utnapishtim's uniqueness; Gilgamesh will not be able to achieve everlasting life in the same way. When he is created, Enkidu has no knowledge of society or humanity. During this part of the quest, Gilgamesh does not seem to change internally. Making the leap from one stage of life to another is intimidating.
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