Gilgamesh - Reflective Essay

            It is imminent that like all humans, inevitably Gilgamesh will die. Gilgamesh is not only a king, but becomes a hero. He is the ruler over the Sumerian city-state Uruk. He is like any other; more powerful, more alluring, more adventurous. Being that he is two-thirds god and only one-third human, Gilgamesh is sour that he is not immortal. He is forced to face death, not only of others but of his own. However, without death his life would be meaningless and the journeys within the epic would disappear. The Epic of Gilgamesh describes the battle of a man's adventure to accepting mortality while trying to find meaning in his life despite the ultimate fate of death.
             Gilgamesh is a tyrannical king. Although he is not a god, he acts as though. Acting as a despot over his people, he oppressively forces the building of ziggurats and other monuments. He rapes any woman to which he so desires. It is evident that he sees himself as a god. He is as physically attractive, astute, selfish, and strong as most gods. Nonetheless, he lacks immortality. The gods answer the pleas of Gilgamesh's people by creating Enkidu, a man made of clay that has the equivalent greatness of Gilgamesh. Thus, Enkidu is the only man who has the power to change Gilgamesh.
             Enkidu is originally created to trump the power of Gilgamesh, however the two unite. Realizing they share the same strength, they become friends. They build a strong bond that evolves from a friendship to brotherhood and they set out looking for adventure together. Knowing that they are mortal, they encourage each other to face death with courage. "All living creatures born of the flesh shall sit at last in the boat of the West, and when it sinks, when the boat of Magilum sinks, they are gone; but we shall go forward and fix our eyes on this monster. "(81) Together, they defeat the demon Humbaba and steal trees from the cedar forest that is forbidden to all mortals.