Free Epic of Gilgamesh Essays: Themes of Gilgamesh :: Epic Gilgamesh essays

Themes of the heroical of Gilgamesh Many alkalis are incorporated into the story line of Gilgamesh. These include threesome very important concepts destruction is inevitable, immortality is unachievable, and friendship is a necessity. One of the of import themes in the epic is that death is inevitable, which is shown through Enkidus death. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh becomes very worried, because he realizes for the firstborn time that everyone is going to die at some point in time. The fact that Enkidu is a close friend makes it even more microscopic to Gilgamesh that everyone is mortal. Then, along with this realization, comes the theme of denial. Gilgamesh does non want to accept the fact that he will die. He denies the truth, because he does not want to think nigh the truth or cope with the tragedy that has struck him. And he-he does not reverse his head. I touched his heart, it does not beat (Tablet VIII, newspaper column II, 15-16). Me Will I too not die like En kidu? Sorrow was come into my belly. I fear death I err over the hills. I will seize the roadway quickly I will go to the house of Utnapishtim, offspring of Ubaratutu. I approach the entrance of the mountain at night. Lions I see, and I am terrified. I lift my head to pray to the mood god netherworld For...a dream I go to the gods in prayer ...preserve me (Tablet IX, Column I, 3-12). The theme of death being inevitable leads to another theme, alike(p) to the first. This is that immortality is unachievable, shown through similar examples as the first theme. Gilgamesh realizes that immortality is not obtainable after his quest for it. He discovers that the quest was pointless, because he will die regardless of the steps to sustain his death in the future. Never has a mortal man done that, Gilgamesh (Tablet IX, Column III, 8). The fate of mankind overtook him... In fear of death I roam the wilderness...Me, shall I not lie down like him, never once more to move? (Tablet X, Colu mn II, 3, 8, 13-14). From the beginning, there is no permanence (Tablet X, Column VI, 32).