The definition of an epic is "a literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats." In reading the epic Gilgamesh by Herbert Mason I began to understand what an epic actually was, and one thing I leaned was that a heroic feat was not necessarily a physical fight, but could be an emotional battle from within. A feat that our main hero Gilgamesh actually beat was the fear of death.
Through destiny, Gilgamesh met Enkidu and developed the one & only true friendship he ever had known. As these two men continue on a journey of life and self development, the bond between them strengthens. One day the two are fighting a battle & Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh fell apart because the one thing that was ever good in his life was gone. The friendship between the two had impacted him very strongly. A quote from the book says "Why am I to die, you to wander on alone? Is that the way it is with friends? Gilgamesh sat hushed as his friend's eyes stilled. In his silence he reached out to touch the friend whom he had lost." This quote shows the original impact of the death on Gilgamesh & how he could do nothing but sit there and watch his friend die. Another quote is "Gilgamesh wept bitterly for his friend. He felt himself now singled out for loss, apart from everyone else. The word Enkidu roamed through every thought like a hungry animal through empty lairs." I picked this quote because I thought it truly should the impact of the friendship. With Enkidu gone, Gilgamesh was lost and very alone. He had found a person to journey with & it was as if the journey was halted and forced to end. I also think the comparison to the wolves made perfect sense. He had searched his whole life for something that kept him sane; something that made sense to him, and now that was gone.
Through all of the agony & pain though, Gilgamesh did manage to beat his fear of death & losing people.
