The Epic of Gilgamesh
The rhetorical project that The Epic of Gilgamesh is engaged in is immortality.As of this day humankind has managed to keep up and not go extinct. However in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is frightened towards the fact that one day he will die. All of what he has achieved, everything he’s done, whether it be a good thing or bad, it will all come to an end. Forever doesn’t exist, that’s the saying we live by, at least in my opinion. As one reads the text you come to the conclusion that man can’t live forever, although humankind has, it is proven now as you're reading this. As Gilgamesh journeys through different places with Enkidu, a friend, who was made to destroy Gilgamesh but failed, he begins to realize that eternity …show more content…
Witnessing a friend's death can be dramatic and horrifying but we have learned and accepted the fact that we can't live forever, all you can really do is enjoy your life to the fullest because we don’t know when and where we will eventually die, that is why it isn’t as hard for us to take that in, it’s in our nature to accept death. On the other hand Gilgamesh witnesses Enkidu’s death, of course in a different time period, where death wasn't accepted by the gods, at least not Gilgamesh. As a result of this he became frightened and began a journey to seek for eternal life. A few reasons are taken into consideration that apply and trigger Gilgamesh to seek immortality, eternal life. The first reason being is, Gilgamesh doesn’t want to die like Enkidu, secondly, he seeks revenge for Enkidu's murder and lastly, the loyal friendship that they both had has come to an end. Love is going to be the motivating force that pushes Gilgamesh on a quest to get what he thrives for. Seeking immortality for Gilgamesh is important because he’s unique, he doesn’t want to be like ordinary society, …show more content…
At this point Gilgamesh recognizes and sinks in the idea that one day he will die, however he wants to avoid that and become immortal just like all the other gods that watch over him and the city of Uruk, Gilgamesh’s people. The death of Enkidu was no peaceful death at all. As stated on page 153 in the text, “O Enkidu, what is this sleep that has seized you, that has darkened your face and stopped your breath?” This quote symbolizes the death of Enkidu being slow and painful. Gilgamesh thinks to himself that he is just like enkidu, only much stronger. However the death of Enkidu foreshadows that Gilgamesh will soon die as well. Death for Gilgamesh is and will not be accepted, at least not now. The elements and factors that led to Enkidu’s death is something that Gilgamesh very much perceives to avoid. When Gilgamesh inherits his father’s power to rule the city of Uruk, death is not a concept that he is familiar with, or at least doesn’t think to himself that death is his destiny, not immortality. Gilgamesh starts his journey to find immortality, or better said, the one who withholds it and resembles it. Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim is considered to be the Mesopotamian Noah, just like the Noah from the Bible in the book of Genesis. Gilgamesh asks for advice and is given news that he doesn’t want to accept. That he can’t be
The rhetorical project that The Epic of Gilgamesh is engaged in is immortality.As of this day humankind has managed to keep up and not go extinct. However in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is frightened towards the fact that one day he will die. All of what he has achieved, everything he’s done, whether it be a good thing or bad, it will all come to an end. Forever doesn’t exist, that’s the saying we live by, at least in my opinion. As one reads the text you come to the conclusion that man can’t live forever, although humankind has, it is proven now as you're reading this. As Gilgamesh journeys through different places with Enkidu, a friend, who was made to destroy Gilgamesh but failed, he begins to realize that eternity …show more content…
Witnessing a friend's death can be dramatic and horrifying but we have learned and accepted the fact that we can't live forever, all you can really do is enjoy your life to the fullest because we don’t know when and where we will eventually die, that is why it isn’t as hard for us to take that in, it’s in our nature to accept death. On the other hand Gilgamesh witnesses Enkidu’s death, of course in a different time period, where death wasn't accepted by the gods, at least not Gilgamesh. As a result of this he became frightened and began a journey to seek for eternal life. A few reasons are taken into consideration that apply and trigger Gilgamesh to seek immortality, eternal life. The first reason being is, Gilgamesh doesn’t want to die like Enkidu, secondly, he seeks revenge for Enkidu's murder and lastly, the loyal friendship that they both had has come to an end. Love is going to be the motivating force that pushes Gilgamesh on a quest to get what he thrives for. Seeking immortality for Gilgamesh is important because he’s unique, he doesn’t want to be like ordinary society, …show more content…
At this point Gilgamesh recognizes and sinks in the idea that one day he will die, however he wants to avoid that and become immortal just like all the other gods that watch over him and the city of Uruk, Gilgamesh’s people. The death of Enkidu was no peaceful death at all. As stated on page 153 in the text, “O Enkidu, what is this sleep that has seized you, that has darkened your face and stopped your breath?” This quote symbolizes the death of Enkidu being slow and painful. Gilgamesh thinks to himself that he is just like enkidu, only much stronger. However the death of Enkidu foreshadows that Gilgamesh will soon die as well. Death for Gilgamesh is and will not be accepted, at least not now. The elements and factors that led to Enkidu’s death is something that Gilgamesh very much perceives to avoid. When Gilgamesh inherits his father’s power to rule the city of Uruk, death is not a concept that he is familiar with, or at least doesn’t think to himself that death is his destiny, not immortality. Gilgamesh starts his journey to find immortality, or better said, the one who withholds it and resembles it. Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim is considered to be the Mesopotamian Noah, just like the Noah from the Bible in the book of Genesis. Gilgamesh asks for advice and is given news that he doesn’t want to accept. That he can’t be