ipl-logo

Enkidu's Friendship In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

427 Words2 Pages

Friendship is one of important part in our lives. Most of the time, a good friend knows you better than yourself. There are many meanings that relay to being a good friend, especially because everyone does not have the same personality. Similarly, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, we can perceive several relationships, but the one between Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship plays an important part of the story. The story begins as Shamat the harlot seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh ().Gilgamesh is an oppressive king who used his power to hurt people and Enkidu is the king of the animals. Gilgamesh and Enkidu neither one ever had a friend that was a man before. Enkidu only knew steppe animals, and Gilgamesh, an oppressive king who had never treated anyone as his equal. As soon as Gilgamesh and Enkidu met each other, people of the city started to praise Enkidu because people of the city saw Enkidu was equal to Gilgamesh. This cause the fight between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in their first meeting. The fight between Gilgamesh and Enkidu made the people think that …show more content…

Their friendship has become immediately strong. They call each other brother and decided to fight evil together. Throughout the fight against Humbaba until the death of Sublett 2 of Enkidu, they both were together. During their fight to Humbaba, Enkidu was physically hurt. As their friendship was very strong, one friend would help other when their weakness was obvious. An example would be when Ishtar sent Bull of Heaven down to kill Gilgamesh. To protect his friend Enkidu used his knowledge of animals to kill bull but unfortunately, it took his life. It is clearly showed the true friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. A true friend can give up his own life to save his friend’s life. Overall, the story portrays the short-lived friendship of Gilgamesh and

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Social Norms In The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Genesis

    1139 Words  | 5 Pages

    Additionally, the moments in the epic where Enkidu learns to wear clothing and eat bread also demonstrate his slow but progressive integration into human society and community as well. His best display of support for community bonds was undoubtedly when he heard of Gilgamesh's policy of the first night. This policy is shown here in The Epic of Gilgamesh with how, "He (Gilgamesh) mates with the lawful wife, he first, the groom after. By divine decree pronounced, from the cutting of his umbilical cord, she is his due. " When Enkidu learns this policy, his newly obtained reason and sense of community is outraged at the tyranny of Gilgamesh, and thus Enkidu serves his purpose of being the protector of the people, a social justice hero, by preventing Gilgamesh from having the bride's first night as shown in the epic story.

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh Archetype

    597 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the Ramayana, Hanuman is depicted as a faithful servant and ally to Rama, accompanying him on his journey and helping him in his quest to rescue his wife. As the poet Valmiki writes, "Hearing Rama's words, Hanuman, that valiant and wise monkey, took a tremendous leap, and in a moment he was gone" (p. 662). Similarly, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu is portrayed as a loyal friend and companion to the hero, providing him with strength and support. As the poet writes, "Enkidu, my friend, my brother, we must enter the house of Humbaba" (p. 68).

    Read More

  • Enkidu And Odysseus Comparison

    610 Words  | 3 Pages

    The bond each share shows the overwhelming idea that if soulmates were real, the bond between these pairs would be the epitome of the world. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu was made specifically to combat the arrogant, reckless spirit of Gilgamesh. Anu heard the voice of the people when they wanted someone to curb Gilgamesh’s insubordination, and he commanded Aruru to “create a partner for Gilgamesh, mighty in strength, Let them contend with each other … create what Anu commanded, To his stormy heart, let that one be equal” (1.84-85,88-89). The gods made Enkidu be the equal of Gilgamesh, and their friendship was destined to help each other come to a middle ground in their personalities (Enkidu to be less wild, and Gilgamesh to be less egotistic). This companionship was made by the hands of gods, and when Enkidu faces death, Gilgamesh cries out in immense pain: “I mourn my friend Enkidu … You who stood by me when we climbed the mountain … Come back to me!”

    Read More

  • How Did Gilgamesh Change

    587 Words  | 3 Pages

    When they meet they fight each other and soon after become friends. The transformation for Enkidu was more physical that than Gilgamesh’s. Enkidu change from have a more animalistic nature and behavior

    Read More

  • Humbristic To Humble Gilgamesh Analysis

    746 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this tale, a godly man, Gilgamesh, develops a friendship with beast-turned-man, Enkidu, who begins to teach Gilgamesh about the world and helps him to grapple with challenges. After one challenge in particular, a battle with the giant Humbaba, Enkidu dies abruptly, leaving Gilgamesh alone again, and forcing him to overcome adversities by himself. Gilgamesh is initially despondent, but these adversities eventually give him the strength to grow in wisdom and appreciation. Gilgamesh flourishes from his failures because he can finally understand the meanings of life and death, accept

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Beowulf's Androgynous Heroism

    220 Words  | 1 Pages

    When he died, Gilgamesh started changing for the superior. Just as the article says, Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Heroic Life, “The most a man

    Read More

  • Epic Of Gilgamesh Suffering

    1147 Words  | 5 Pages

    Human suffering is one of the major themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh. When confronting with painful circumstances in our lives, we often ask ourselves why is life so difficult and wonder if suffering is necessary. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the two heroes, Gilgamesh and Enkidu both go through suffering either physically or mentally. There are many beliefs to the reason why suffering is inevitable. In this epic, it is portrayed that the two heroes’ sufferings are the results of their fundamental flaws, such as their hubris and their attachments of to be remembered.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Enkidu

    1026 Words  | 5 Pages

    Gilgamesh book report Part 1: In the introduction, when Mitchell assesses the comparisons and differences between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, he states that Enkidu “is also Gilgamesh’s opposite and mirror image: two-thirds animal to Gilgamesh’s two-thirds divine. These animal qualities are actually much more attractive than divine ones. Where Gilgamesh is arrogant, Enkidu is childlike; where Gilgamesh is violent, Enkidu is peaceful...”

    Read More

  • Enkidu And Gilgamesh Comparison Essay

    406 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilgamesh and Enkidu from the start were bound to each other from their creation by the gods. To understand more you must learn of their similarity, difference and their experiences that take you to Enkidu’s death. From our reading assignments, I would like to have explored more past Enkidu’s death to learn more of how Gilgamesh had reacted. Each of our heroes brings much ado to the reality of friendship, love, and expression of men during their time.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Friendship In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

    1178 Words  | 5 Pages

    The friendships that we develop throughout our lives strongly influence us, contributing in important ways to the type of people we become. Indeed, a friend can bring out a person’s best or their worst; sometimes the same friend can do both. Strong friendships are centrally important to the main characters of two of literature’s most celebrated epic poems. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the title character has Enkidu; in The Iliad, Achilles has Patroclus. At the center of these epics are two heroic men who share several similarities, including superhuman strength and other god-like qualities.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Achilles

    961 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the epic, within which many episodes are interlinked, depicts an image of a kind who underwent development and tends to understand the world where he was living. Within the version of the Babylonian, hero Gilgamesh 's character is best compared to Achilles. While comparing the characters of Achilles and Gilgamesh, he (Gilgamesh) changed and his nature was affected duet the presence and absence (loss) of Enid his comrade, thus the nature of Enkidu was static. Achilles ' nature and character followed the same pattern as that of Gilgamesh as he was also influenced by the presence and loss of Patroclus his comrade.

    Read More

  • The Development Of Enkidu In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

    1840 Words  | 8 Pages

    Enkidu is forced into civilization after being disowned by nature for sleeping with Shamhat. We see him transformed from a wild beast into a civilized person. As we follow Enkidu’s transformation, we see how he changes for the better, but also experiences some downfalls. The transition was not smooth, it took time to fully adjust, and although there are many disadvantages of leaving the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, the benefits made it worthwhile. Through Enkidu’s exposure to Gilgamesh, he changes from a human that lives among nature, to this great warrior that is willing to kill beasts for no other reason, but glory.

    Read More

  • Animal Life In Gilgamesh

    875 Words  | 4 Pages

    After six days with the harlot, Enkidu realizes he lost his strength. The harlot gets him to join civilization, so he becomes a normal human. He is treated like a royal until Gilgamesh defeats him in battle. After that Gilgamesh and Enkidu become friends and fight in battles together until Enkidu suddenly dies. Gilgamesh does not want the same fate, so he goes looking for eternal life but dies anyway.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Epic Of Gilgamesh

    991 Words  | 4 Pages

    Enkidu’s friendship makes Gilgamesh calm and helps him to become a better king. Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu kiss and hug each other frequently. After conflicts between the two, they kissed and formed friendship. But Gilgamesh is never seen sleeping with a woman after conflict, and he even rejected Ishtar, the principal goddess of Uruk. “Come, Gilgamesh, be you my bridegroom!

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Gilgamesh And The Iliad

    1519 Words  | 7 Pages

    The other similar characters in both the works are Patroclus and Enkidu, who were uncivilized and died for the fame of their leaders. The similarities between the themes of both these works like mortality, friendship and religion. The importance of the theme of friendship is seen in the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh and Patroclus and Achilles. Another similarity is in the main theme of both these works. Both the characters of Gilgamesh and Achilles have the weakness of mortality.

    Read More

More about Enkidu's Friendship In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Open Document