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

Themes of the Epic of Gilgamesh Many themes are incorporated into the written report line of Gilgamesh. These include three very important concepts death is inevitable, im venomousity is unachievable, and comradeship is a necessity. One of the main themes in the epic is that death is inevitable, which is shown through with(predicate) Enkidus death. When Enkidu blends, Gilgamesh be have sexs very worried, because he realizes for the first time that everyone is going to die at some point in time. The fact that Enkidu is a close friend makes it even more visible 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 about the truth or cope with the catastrophe that has struck him. And he-he does not lift his head. I touched his heart, it does not beat (Tablet VIII, Column II, 15-16). Me forget I too not die like En kidu? Sorrow was come into my belly. I terror death I roam over the hills. I will seize the road 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 supplicate to the mood god Sin 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 some other theme, similar to the first. This is that immortality is unachievable, shown through similar examples as the first theme. Gilgamesh realizes that immortality is not gettable after his quest for it. He discovers that the quest was pointless, because he will die regardless of the steps to prevent 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 hatful like him, never again to move? (Tablet X, Column I I, 3, 8, 13-14). From the beginning, there is no permanence (Tablet X, Column VI, 32).