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 departure the hero is usually at a certain point in his life, often a stagnant point. Before Gilgamesh begins his journey, he is trapped in a pre-adulthood by refusing to get married and partaking in sex with many women. Without an internal journey, the external journey is hollow. The stories of heroes simply fighting "evil," or some manifestation of it, lack depth and meaning. The next step of the hero's quest is the journey itself. The character must face many obstacles on his way to fulfillment. The obstacles are often characterized as monsters, dragons, and people who wish to cause the hero harm and end his journey. Temptations and battles bombard the hero from all angles, but if the journey were not ...