perilous then the hero would never reach his goal. Internally, the hero is facing a battle with himself. During his journey, Gilgamesh is struggling with the idea that he must enter into manhood, while he would rather stay a child for eternity. The hero's fulfillment is finally reached when he finds himself and embraces his place in the world. 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. Upon the hero's return home, he is seen as a new person by those around him. The hero has gained wisdom and compassion, a new perspective on life.
             Joseph Campbell's outline can be easily applied to the Epic of Gilgamesh, who must embark on a journey to uncover his true heroic qualities. At the beginning of the story, Gilgamesh is king of Uruk, but an irresponsible one. He violates those who he is supposed to rule and protect. He is trapped in adolescence, refusing to be married and instead violating the institution of marriage by raping women in their bridal bed. In many cultures, marriage is viewed as the final step toward maturity, yet Gilgamesh refuses to take that step. In this way, the reader sees that the king is not quite ready to move out of adolescence. To countera
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