The Epic of Gilgamesh" triggers an emotional memory of mine. The chapter in which Enkidu dies reminds me of when a close friend of the family, Steph, died. The bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is very strong, similar to the bond Steph had with her friends and family. The death of Steph produced several different reactions and indefinitely had a large influence on her family, my sister, mother, and me.
             It was a sunny but snow filled morning in March when Steph was leaving my house to head out to work. I sat and watched her sit in her car getting ready to leave. As she left I watched her head down the street with my dog chasing after her car. As she headed over the railroad tracks I could no longer see her car, but I did happen to see a train at the same moment. Thinking to myself, she is crazy for barely making it past the train. I have watched many cars dodge the train at that crossing and make it through alive. I heard the door five minutes later and was told a girl was hit by a train. I knew instantly it was Steph. When death is thought of it appears unreal, almost like a dream that could not happen to anyone you personally know. Gilgamesh never thought of death until his close companion, Enkidu died. I now realize it can happen to anyone, no matter the age, heath, or attitude. Steph was eighteen years old, held 2 jobs while going to college, and still had time to be on the cheerleading team and be great friends with everyone she came into contact with.
             The speech that Gilgamesh says to the counselors of Uruk on pages 94-95 is very moving and reminded me of the poem that was written for the mourning of Steph. The poem was written to explain that she will be watching over everyone and that everyone will be mourning for her. But it also asked for the people not to weep for her. Therefore the two are the same yet different in the sense that she does not want people to weep for her but still wants to be remembered with a ha...