Compare and contrast King Gilgamesh with Enkidu Essay

Compare and contrast King Gilgamesh with Enkidu - Essay ExampleActually, it was to foil Gilgamesh that the gods created Enkidu, purposely to direct balance to the city of Uruk, which Gilgameshs abuse of power terrorizes. Thus Enkidu becomes Gilgamesh other self a reproach of his weakness, as Enkidu made him painfully realize his inherent limitation as a human his mortality, which hatch him to seek permanent look. This, according to Davis (2000) is the underlying question in the epic Why have the gods withheld eternal life from humanity? (p. 70). Gilgamesh, where are you wandering? The life that you are seeking all around you depart not find. When the gods created mankind they fixed Death for mankind, and held back Life in their own hands. (Kovacks, 1989, p. 85) And it was in his search for eternal life, as he challenges death, that the answer to this question is revealed. The gods denied humanity of eternal life, because what films human life precious, therefore meaningful is no other than death. After Enkidus death, Gilgamesh desire to escape of death gave him the reason to live. It is also his fear of death that transformed Gilgamesh from a ruthless ruler to a responsible one, by which he left behind a legacy that outlived him. As Brown (1996) explained, without death Gilgameshs life would be meaningless, and the adventures that make up the epic would disappear. In celebrating Gilgamesh we celebrate that which makes us human. (para. 6) On the other hand, Gilgamesh is Enkidus strength, since with the elders entrusting Gilgamesh to his care implies cognizance of Gilgameshs weakness of the wilderness. As such, serving Gilgamesh has given Enkidu his worth. Gilgamesh, do not put your trust in (just) your vast strength, but keep a sharp eye out, make each blow lead its mark The one who goes on ahead saves the comrade.1 The one who knows the route protects his friend. let Enkidu go ahead of you he knows the road to the Cedar Forest, he has seen fightin g, has experienced battle. Enkidu will protect the friend, will keep the comrade safe. Let his body urge him back to the wives (?). (Kovacks, 1989, p. 25) Gilgamesh and Enkidu although sharply different are very much alike. If Gilgamesh is a cultivated man born two-thirds god and one-third human in the city of Uruk, notwithstanding acts uncivilly and inhumanely, putting to death the sons and raping the daughters of his slew, on the other hand, Enkidu is a primitive man born akin to a wild beast, yet acts with compassion with the beasts whom he grew with, protecting them from trappers and freeing them whenever trapped (Kovacks, 1989, pp. 4, xix). Such difference portrays the contrast between the educate and the primitive. That civilization, as Brown (1996) noted, transforms the primitive man with no return, corrupting his innocence and weakening him, yet boastful him wisdom to see life beyond the wilderness (para. 9-10) allowing him to grow and enjoy the luxuries that civilizati on could offer to life like wine, women, and comfort. Though born and raised differently, some(prenominal) similarly possess super-human physical strengths that made them both feared Gilgamesh by his people and Enkidu by the trapper. Thus both are to be tamed Gilgamesh by the people of Uruk to live peacefully, whereas, Enkidu by the tra