Gilgamesh Successes And Failures Essay

Being hated or praised by his people is a sector that comes with the high ranking of a prince. A prince cannot possess all the qualities that are regarded as honorable. Some of a prince’s acts that appear to be wicked are beneficial to the state. Due to the impracticality of a perfect ruler, a prince should contain some aspects of evil, despite the hatred of his people. What some may believe to be the acts of a malicious ruler are, in fact, in the best interest of the state.

King Creon is a powerful king with a negative effect on the society because people fear him.

Gilgamesh is a lonely, evil, self-centered ruler who has no humility for man-kind. The people, being fed-up with Gilgamesh and his harsh treatments asked the Gods for help. Enkidu was created and sent down by the Gods to put Gilgamesh in his place and that's what he did, but not in the way the Gods had intended it to happen. Enkidu and Gilgamesh had an altercation during their first meeting, but later bonding becoming inseparable friends recognizing each other as brothers. Through Enkidu's nurturing, Gilgamesh became a good ruler and hero.

He says, “But Polyneices, killed as piteously, an interdict forbids that anyone should bury him or even mourn.” (192). Through disobeying the Gods, Creon implies that his laws are more important than the Gods. Creon’s disregard towards the Gods, explains why he dismisses Tiresias’s power. Creon’s overall power grants him his free will.

Hammurabi’s code interfered with others lives, prevented protection of the weak and created fear among the people. To begin with, Hammurabi’s code of law was unjust because it interfered with others lives. A mesopotamian man was allowed to disown his son whenever he pleased. Also, If the son hits his father, his hands will be cut off (Document C). It is unjust because Hammurabi did not consider the consequences that came with the law.

In Beowulf, it says “their ears could not hear his praise nor know his glory,” this is a connection to God in this epic, but in modern society, people with anxiety don’t hear praise they receive from others because they don’t believe it (lines 97-98). Grendel can’t help who his ancestors are, but he can help himself instead of living down to their expectations. In The Monster Called Anxiety, it says “The inside of my head is a loud place. Something is constantly bouncing around. I think about things I said or did years ago, about how ‘stupid’ I was,/ Anxiety makes me a difficult person to be friends with” (Ann).

“ Mistakes made by a foolish mind, cruel mistakes that bring on death.” (1406 to 1407.) In this quote, King Creon of Thebes is acknowledging that he has made tragic mistakes, because he wanted to the laws of his state, that he put in place, instead of preserving the safety of his family, which consequently lead to suffering for many. In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, the character Creon makes decisions based on what he feels is right, and refuses to pay attention to other’s advice. His stubbornness and selfishness prove fatal, and as a consequence of his moral deficiency, he kills an innocent woman, and loses his son in the aftermath.

Refusal to yield due to pride is a human weakness evident in both the ancient times and today's society. In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus refuses to yield when Tiresias urges him that “there’s no help in the truth” (Sophocles 17). Since Oedipus is too proud and stubborn to believe Tiresias, he ignores Tiresias’ advice and unfolds the truth concerning his own past and King Laius’ death, thinking that he will save Thebes from the plague, but ends up only harming himself and his loved ones. Like Oedipus, Muhammad Ali, a professional boxer, is also proud of his beliefs and refuses to yield and join the U.S. military when drafted during the Vietnam War, despite the criticism and punishment he receives. Ali stated that his “ ‘conscience [won't]

This is illustrated when Mr Birling says, “Now look here, Inspector –”and the Inspector cuts him off with, “He must wait his turn.” The Inspector undermines Mr Birling’s authority over his own family, creating tension between them and fueling their ongoing feud for control. Mr Birling considers himself a well-respected man and he believes that he is too important to be investigated by the police. He feels that he should be treated with a higher degree of respect than other people. However, when the Inspector arrives, his authority and respect that he normally receives has vanished; not even his children listen to him and instead choose to listen to the Inspector.

In the first place, one of the reasons for his downfall was his lack of sympathy towards the poor. King Richard saw himself as God’s representation and thus did not bother to

“Gilgamesh went abroad in the world, but he met with none who could withstand his arms till be came to Uruk. But the men of Uruk muttered in their houses, ‘Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his amusement, his arrogance has no bounds by day or night.” As Gilgamesh first reached Uruk. The men of Uruk gossip and did not trust Gilgamesh. Even though The power of Gilgamesh could be a danger to Uruk, Gilgamesh had power and was wise because the gods made him two-thirds god and one-third man.

Comparison of Gilgamesh and Achilles In The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Iliad, Gilgamesh and Achilles carry the burden of being powerful heroes and assume the leadership roles that follow. We see both characters make selfish decisions, experience the effects of companionship, and undergo moral change throughout their journeys. Tracing their decisions shows how they change, and more importantly exhibits what drives their change. Gilgamesh’s main internal struggle is rooted in the well being of the people of Uruk versus the well being of himself. Gilgamesh’s practice of prima nocte and lack of compassion for his people inspires resentment from the public of Uruk.

Throughout ones’ life, they will face challenges and temptations in which they cannot overcome, despite the consequences that may occur. This appears to be true in the Epic of Gilgamesh when Gilgamesh is given two tests that will prove that no matter how hard he tries, he will fail and come to realize he is not immortal, and cannot escape death. Gilgamesh relates to the eating of the apple in the Garden of Eden because although it was spoken to be poisonous and will cause death, the temptation from the serpent led them to their fatality. Gilgamesh and Enkidu set off on their journey to steal trees from a cedar forest, which is forbidden to mortals. Once they arrive, they have to fight and kill Humbaba, which is the guard of the trees in the forest.