Two Epic Heros

Two Epic Hero’s and Their Meaning of Life

Two epic heroes, Gilgamesh and Odysseus overcome the same obstacles in the stories. They both feature the hardships and struggles both powerful men went through. During their journeys they find their quest for life and discovery. Each men had one thing in common and that was a goal. Even though they are both similar to one another they are different as well. The main focus is that they were both trying to find their meaning of life and the obstacles they had to overcome to find it.

Odysseus’s journey is different from Gilgamesh’s, he has been on a journey home after a war in troy. Along his journey he has to face many challenges. Because of those challenge he is separated from his family and his home Ithaca. Not only is he away from his family but during his quest he has to deal with the angry gods, one eyed Cyclops that kill some of his men, the underworld life and also people that are after his wife. Even after having to overcome all those hardships his main goal is to go back home to his wife Penelope and his son.

Gilgamesh is just as powerful as Odysseus but he carries a trait of selfishness. Even though he is a powerful king sometime he thinks too highly of himself. He is afraid that if he dies not being known for anything then life is not complete, he wants to die being remembered. Just like Odysseus, Gilgamesh’s journey is also epic. The main cause of his journey is to find immortality. He wants to overcome the gods and be able to live forever. He wants to outsmart death, but it seemed that his idea of death changed after his great friend Enkidu died, after that Gilgamesh was terrified and could stand the thought of him being dead as well. One thing that both men had in common is that they were feared by some. Gilgamesh was feared by the people in Urk and Odysseus was feared by the suitors that overtook his home.

The women in these two tales are filled with wisdom but the knowledge that they carry can...