Love and Friendship in the Epic of Gilgamesh Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Aruru makes Enkidu, whose transformation from beast to human being shows parallels with Gilgamesh’s evolution as a humane human being too. To continue with the same point, Enkidu lives like an animal, but he awakens from his beastly stature after having sexual relations with Shamhat, and, as a parallel experience, Gilgamesh becomes more human when he is humbled after Enkidu almost defeats him. After making love with Shamhat, Enkidu changes within and so does Gilgamesh because they figure out that being human is seeing their own weaknesses by witnessing them in others and accepting them as part of their humanity. Enkidu becomes a human being as he realizes his need for fraternal relationships: â€Å"Becoming aware of himself, he sought a friend† (Gilgamesh 1.194-204). Enkidu realizes that without a friend, his life is incomplete. Having a friend like Gilgamesh completes the essence of his humanity because it entails love and support from a real friend. Friendship is e ssential to opening the eyes to one’s human limitations and capabilities. As a corresponding identity-changing experience, Gilgamesh also transforms from being a beast to being human being because of his battle with Enkidu. We will write a custom essay sample on Love and Friendship in the Epic of Gilgamesh or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Enkidu literally and figuratively saves him. Literally, Enkidu fights with Gilgamesh in his battles, and symbolically, he prevents Gilgamesh from being a brutish leader by inspiring him to change. Moreover, the meteorite reflects baptism through fire. Gilgamesh’s battle with Enkidu proves that Gilgamesh might be the mightiest, but he is still a mortal being who needs friends to feel happiness and fulfillment. At the same time, embracing Enkidu as a wife is similar to saying that their bonds are eternal. Gilgamesh becomes a better human being because he realizes that he has been inhumane and it is time to change into a true human being who cares for the welfare of others. Besides changing through seeing the self in others, friendship turns Gilgamesh into a more compassionate and just leader. Sasson explores the relationship between literary motifs in the Epic of Gilgamesh and its author’s historical conditions.