In the following tables, Gilgamesh has a more profound acknowledgment of death besides his recent loss. His suffering was so deep that he eagerly wanted to comfort himself, which made him order to build a statue resembling his late friend figure. With this behavior, he kind of tried to become Enkidu’s original identity or performed himself as a living tribute to his friend. It shows that nothing material is worth it more than his friend to him or a kind of impersonation by changing his dressing style to animal skins. As Gilgamesh sorrow for Enkidu’s fatal ending, he requested that every creature or plant living on earth companion him in his mourning process.īy Gilgamesh cutting his hair and destroying his expensive clothes and jewelry after Enkidu’s death symbolizes vulnerability in front of others (Uruk Citizens). In table VIII of The Epic of Gilgamesh, readers could appreciate the literary figure of repetition in words such as “May” and “Mourn You” as it repeats almost twenty times in a row. I believe that every ending is a new beginning but doesn’t that mean we are in a loop for a lifetime? Hence, it would be best to cherish the pleasures of the world and leave without any regrets. She advised Gilgamesh with her wisdom that Mankind was created with a certain period of time for which with every life came death. Siduri was aware of the reality and accepted it which was definitely a wise decision as she didn’t go after something which she couldn’t get. Life should be cheerful and spread happiness in one another’s life. At times, we humans can get lost and wander around but life is too short to have any regrets or disappointment hence it’s wise to make the most out of our time with positivity. Isn’t it surprising how we promise one another “forever” even though knowing there’s no forever? Humans have various desires and wishes but do we always get what we want? But doesn’t everything happen for a reason? All these questions struck me upon reading the above verses. Night and day play and dance.” (Tablet X, )
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The eternal life you are seeking you shall not find.Īnd withheld eternal life for themselves.Īs for you, Gilgamesh, let your stomach be full, On his journey, He met Siduri, the female tavern-keeper with whom he had exchanged a very meaningful conversation.
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As he saw Enkidu’s painful death, he didn’t want to accept that life had to end at some point and how terrifying the ending could be. In this week’s reading, Gilgamesh set out in the search of immortality as a result of looking for Utanapishtim who had survived the Great Flood with his wife and became immortal.