Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh

1. Gilgamesh was 2/3 God 1/3 man, the strongest in the kingdom and a warrior type, who was at first an unfair king. Gilgamesh was larger than life because of the tasks that he set out to perform; killing of Hamarba, Chopping down the cedar forest, and the killing of the Heavens Bull; these were feats that no mortal would dare, or could do. Gilgamesh has a human side to him that is the want for the self (sex- his decree of all mans marriage night duties, friendship- how he reacts to Enkidu's death, riches- he claims all in the beginning). He is a very needy man in his wants and desires; his need to fill this is greater than what is around him.

2. In Gilgamesh, "the human condition" speaks directly to love and morality, morality was his fear in the end, to loose life therefore the quest for the plant at the bottom of the sea that would give him immorality. Which he looses to the snake. Love was what he had with Enkidu, and lost that with his death. Gods don't loose they create or destroy, so all that is lost is Gilgamesh's human condition.

3. Lethal Weapon is an excellent example that reiterates Gilgamesh's story in up to date terms. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are partners, one earthly wild sided half (Mel Gibson) and another more wise careful partner (Danny Glover) this duality can draw direct lines to Gilgamesh and Enkidu in their relationship. The male bonding (love) is ever present with the perception that one would gladly give their life for the other, but in Gilgamesh, Enkidu actually dies as one in life will eventually do.

4. Being "Born to Die" hits the mark closer than any of the others in my opinion. At the end Gilgamesh had to have thought at one point before he eventually died, what was the point of all this if I cannot

live forever to recall to myself my tasks and triumphs, or at least to remember Enkidu for myself. This going beyond self was not evident to Gilgamesh.

5. Nature was to be conquered by man to show superiority to his environment. Cutting down the Forrest and Enkidu's abandonment of his former life shows a slight deviation of wisdom I feel from its original intention. Enkidu fell from grace or was tricked by a woman ( her name waste Eve this time) to loose his primitive ways and join society, to do this when he gave himself to her he gained wisdom of the world much like Adam did