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A Comparison Of Achilles And Gilgamesh: A Hero's Journey

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Achilles and Gilgamesh venture into epic journeys that change the trajectory of their lives. It is evident that Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s journeys fit into Joseph Campbell’s stages of a hero’s journey. Through analyzing each of the stages that Achilles and Gilgamesh endure, both characters indeed grow as heroes. Nonetheless, the growth in Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s characters are different due to their different journeys. Each of the stages in Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s journeys are essential to their growth; however, the stages known as the road back and the return with the elixir reveal how they have ultimately grown. In Homer’s The Iliad, each stage of Achilles’ journey, especially the road back and the return with the elixir, is vital to …show more content…

Gilgamesh's ordinary world was his selfish and arrogant reign in Uruk. For example, the statement, “He mates with the lawful wife, he first, the groom after,” reveals his abuse of power (Foster 46). Gilgamesh’s call to adventure begins with the creation of Enkidu due to his poor use of power. The pair venture to battle in the Cedar Forest, which ended with the death of Enkidu. Gilgamesh cries out, “Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu? Oh woe has entered my vitals!” (Foster 72). Such a phrase shows the beginning stages of Gilgamesh’s journey to discover immortality. Upon approaching the inmost cave, Gilgamesh meets his mentor, Utnapishtim, to find the reason for his immortality. Gilgamesh’s road back consisted of finding the plant of immortality. Gilgamesh has yet to learn his lesson regarding immortality as evidenced by his doubts, “I will take it to ramparted Uruk, I will have an old man eat some and so test the plant...I myself will eat it and so return to my carefree youth” (Foster 88). Subsequently, he loses the plant to a snake and begins to learn the lesson that being a worthy king is much more valuable than

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