Despite all of Gilgamesh's power, he is unable to prevent Enkidu's death, and the narrative changes direction. How can one describe Gilgamesh as a hero in the last half of the work?

Quest For Imortality

Despite all of Gilgamesh's power, he is unable to prevent Enkidu's death, and the narrative changes direction. How can one describe Gilgamesh as a hero in the last half of the work?

After Gilgamesh loses Enkidu to the gods, he wants to go and reclaim him from the underworld. As he is making his journey, he thinks about his own death, and fearing the thought, and decides he wants to become immortal. Gilgamesh goes to see Utnapishtim, the survivor of the Great Flood upon whom the gods conferred immortality. He goes to Utnapishtam and talks to him about immortality. Utnapishtam tells Gilgamesh to stay awake for a full week, but he could not last. Utnapishtam tells him that he cannot become immortal and send him away, but Wife of Utnapishtam tells Gilgamesh of a plant, that when eaten, will make him immortal. Gilgamesh finds the plant, but it was not quick enough to eat it, as it is eaten by a snake. He finally realizes that he is a human, and is meant to be a mortal. Immortality is reserved for the gods and after life is supposed to come death. He goes back to Uruk and is a wonderful king, loved by the townspeople. He makes the most of his mortal life, and leaves a lasting legend behind.

Credits

All information can be found in the book Gilgamesh A New Rendering in English Verse by David Ferry.

Link to photo used: http://artworks-gallery.org/archives/2007-04.htm

-Lizzy Fallon