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Theme Of Love In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

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The Epic of Gilgamesh conveys numerous themes. Among those are the inevitability of death, the eminence of the gods, and strikingly the importance of love as an impetus. Love, defined in a consummate sense is intimacy, passion, and commitment. These traits are exemplified in Gilgamesh and Enkidu's relationship, and they are also implied between Enkidu and Sham hat. Despite the violent and abrasive nature of the happenings of this text, love is displayed blatantly throughout. From Enkidu's introduction to civilization, to the defeat of Humpback, love is the driving force in many salient events. Enkidu, raised by animals, rivals Gilgamesh in the measure of his great strength; however, he was a man of the wild and had never known civilization. As stated in The Epic of Gilgamesh "He knew neither people nor inhabited land, / He dressed as animals do. / He fed on grass with the gazelles" (Unknown 100-102). This changes when a hunter stumbles upon him at a watering hole. The hunter, in a sense of awe and frustration with him sought the consultation …show more content…

Through their relationship they become wiser and more viable assets to each other and their society. Before meeting Enkidu, Gilgamesh was a powerful leader, revered by his subjects, but his arrogance and egotism fueled his decisions. Contradistinction, Enkidu had only physical power; he was mentally incompetent as a human. The text describes their relationship as an intimate one: "'[I fell in love with it], like a woman I caressed it, / I carried it off and laid it down before you, / Then you were making it my partner'" (48-50). These lines refer to a dream Gilgamesh had about Enkidu; they imply that their relationship could have indeed been a sexual one, which implies passion between them, but nevertheless, they were indeed soul mates of some fashion. They both were committed to aiding one another and insuring that their ventures were

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