Gilgamesh Essay

Gilgamesh Essay

Almost every story from ancient times will have something in common with one another even if they were written or told in completely different parts of the world. These commonalities are defined as archetypes. For example, the serpent that tempted Adam and Eve was evil just as the serpent in The Epic of Gilgamesh was up to no good. The Epic of Gilgamesh fits into the definition of a monomyth hero very well; Gilgamesh has a task to accomplish in gaining immortality, a journey in which he attempts to carry out the task, and then there is his fall when the serpent takes and eats his plant to make him young again.

In the definition of an archetype says there must be a task to fulfill. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh has one, to become immortal. To do this he goes to Utanapishtim who was granted immortality from the gods after surviving the flood they imposed on mankind. Once there Gilgamesh is presented with his task, to stay awake for six days and seven nights straight. This task would be considered superhuman by most people’s standards which perfectly fits the definition to be a part of a monomyth hero. Another task Gilgamesh and Enkidu accomplished prior to meeting Utanapishtim is to kill a beast named Humbaba. A comparable modern day idea of Humbaba is Big Foot, “Humbaba is not like men who die, no one can stand against his weapons”. The main motive of killing the beast was to still gain immortality.

Another term in the definition of an archetype is “the journey”. This accounts for most of The Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh’s goal for immortality leads him on a journey to kill Humbaba, meet Utanapishtim, dive into the depths of the sea for “Old Man Grown Young” plant, and lose the plant to a serpent. The motivation for Gilgamesh was he feared death, this fear was magnified after Enkidu died a slow miserable death after they slayed the mighty Humbaba. When on the subject of immortality he was told “Why do you chase sorrow,...