Gilgamesh: Out of the Dark and into the Light

Without light, we wouldn’t know dark. Without cold, we couldn’t know hot. These “systematic dualisms of associated polarities” (Honderich 734), or binary oppositions, are used to illustrate meaning in the story of Gilgamesh.

The story of this epic hero, Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu, is one of conflict between wild and civilized, immortality and mortality, love and hate. These are all binary oppositions, which give the characters and the reader the meaning of the story. The meaning for the reader “occurs through difference” (Literary Criticism: An Overview 2). These oppositions are related to each other by their conflicting nature. Both refer to the same thing, such as what it is to be human, but the meanings of the words are established through their inherent differences and their relationship to each other within that confine. We notice these oppositions not just by simply reading the story and becoming aware of them, but through the simple use of words and the consistent structure of the work. The poem is divided into lines, which are often connected by parallel meaning. These parallel meanings, akin to the use of major and minor keys on a piano piece, come together to form the

. . .
He has learned what being human is, what love and compassion are. The two opposing parts of both characters come together and form the whole. The stanzas are structured so simply, that they flow with a seamlessness that is hard to misunderstand. For the reader who is going through this journey with him, we find meaning having already understood Gilgamesh, the half-god, as immortal.

Another human component of the dualities seen in the poem is the struggle between love and hate. Concrete use of binary oppositions are often illustrated in sentences with “but” or “yet,” indicating that a transition is coming our way and we ought to pay attention. These differences are what brings them together, and what gives them an understanding of the other. This simplicity, however, does not take away from the fact that Gilgamesh is a story with deep emotional impact. It is through his interactions with Enkidu, and through understanding inherent differences of human nature, that he comes to realize himself. His emotion of jealousy displayed here is quite human, yet is more aligned with that of hate.

Finally, the author gives us meaning through the simple use of words and structure. We recognize these differences and the relationships between them within ourselves, which leads us to draw our conclusions of the story. He has looked mortality in the face and has come to grips with the allusiveness of immortality. He knows now what is to have loved and lost, to feel compassion for another.

Common topics in this essay:
Gilgamesh Enkidu, Criticism Overview, Heaven Hell…/, Dark Light, Enkidu Mason, Enkidu Gilgameshs, mason 16, life death, meaning understand, mason 20, tyrant people, binary oppositions, simple words, gilgamesh tyrant, reader meaning, wild civilized,

Approximate Word count = 1762
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here