Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Enkidu

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...” (Mitchell, 11). The description of comparing these two characters to an “animal” and a “god” seemed counterintuitive to me because, when I think of an animal, I think of it as wild, untamed, free. For a god, I usually tend to think of a divine higher being who is moral and righteous. Their alternate personality traits stated in the intro, steer away from the general thought process of an “animal” or a “god,” which shows that, before both characters even meet, they are already like

For example, while traveling to the Cedar Forest, Enkidu refutes Gilgamesh’s rather skeptical dreams into positive symbols for the oncoming battle with Humamba by reassuring him that “the dream you had is a favorable one” (Mitchell, 106-115) even though it foreshadows an unfavorable end with the capture by something bigger than themselves that they can’t overcome. During the final action of the ultimate battle, Enkidu disregards Humamba’s plead for mercy by saying to “kill Humamba, don’t listen to his words” (Mitchell, 126). Even though Enkidu served as a companion for Gilgamesh as they both learned about friendship and loyalty, he still urged death upon Humamba and insisted Gilgamesh kill him quickly. Since Gilgamesh is the protagonist, while death/fate is his antagonist, Enkidu plays a slight antagonistic role by having Gilgamesh go behind the gods’ back and kill their intended guard of the