Mac, Gilgamesh also was forced to come to terms with death but in a different way. In Mac's case its hard to be sure what role the cosmos played, while in Gilgamesh's tragedy the cosmos were directly responsible as they struck Enkidu with an illness which took his life. He is overtaken with grief for his friend but also for himself because he realizes he too will someday die. As Mac did, Gilgamesh now looses his innocence as he "falls into the consciousness of mortality".
             At this point both men decide its time to take full advantage of their lives, although in different manners. Mac has an overwhelming need to befriend and thank Simon in everyway possible for saving his life. He even goes as far as finding Simon the woman of his dreams. Somewhat ironically Simon and Mac become close friends, much like Gilgamesh and Enkidu had been. After being so close to death Mac embraces life and attempts to mend past mistakes. Gilgamesh on the other hand refuses to accept death and goes on a quest to find a cure to human mortality. He found it and just as quickly he lost it. A reason for this could be perhaps because his search was a selfish one. In the end this great king died like all other mortals, "such was his destiny; everlasting life was not his destiny". If all the other men from the films and stories had figured out this simple fact this could be the end of this essay, but no such luck and so we continue.
             After examining Phil from the film Ground Hog Day and the Buddha quite a few similarities become evident. At some point they both find themselves searching for the meaning of life, imagine that. How they get there is somewhat different though. Both were celebrities in a way. The Buddha was a prince while Phil was a reporter who carried himself as though he was a prince. Buddha was to succeed his father and become king. His father also wished him to live a perfect life free of sufferin...