In many forms of literature, numerous themes are often referenced in the texts and many tales would have a similar interpretation and representation of these themes. One such theme that has been utilized by many ancient literary texts is the idea of mortality. This theme often associates with the idea that the ultimate fate of all living beings is death. In literary texts such as Homer’s The Iliad and the ancient Mesopotamian poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the theme of mortality is present with a similar style of portrayal.
The theme of mortality can also be seen through certain characters’ reactions towards the news of death towards the characters close to them. In the Iliad, this can be seen through the death of Patroclus. When Achilles received the news of the death of his close friend, Achilles felt severe grief and depression. This scene is illustrated in the painting from George Dawe (1803), as seen above. Achilles was mortified and rejects the consolation of his mother and servants. He began to throw “fistfuls of sunburnt dust / And poured it on his head, fouling / His beautiful face.” (The Iliad 284) Gilgamesh went through a similar experience after seeing Enkidu’s death, where he began to tear and hurl “the locks of his hair, / Ripping off and throwing away his fine clothes like something foul.” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 133) In both of these stories, the main protagonist had a strong reaction towards death and began to destroy their own appearance by removing and ruining the features that make them beautiful. This can be interpreted as a metaphor of where the hero is trying to commit suicide to be with their lost friend. The act of damaging their physical appearance is an analogy of destroying their humanity and committing suicide. By transforming their appearance into something darker, they begin to embrace death. This is further supported by Achilles, who told his mother, Thetis, that he would be satisfied with dying against Hector, due his failure to protect Patroclus and the other men defeated by Hector. (The Iliad 286) The characters’ reaction to the death of their comrades serves as a reminder that despite their divine nature, they are not immune to death.
In response to death, Achilles chose to react with rage and a desire for vengeance, breaking away from his pacifist attitude from the beginning of the story. Earlier in the story, Achilles refused to return to the battlefield, despite being offered gifts that Nestor described to be “beyond reproach”. (The Iliad 261) Achilles was also conscious of his mortality at that moment, where he states that if he returns to the battle, he will die but will be immortalized with the military honor and glory. If he chooses to return home, he will not receive the glory that he wishes but he will escape death. (The Iliad 266) He was adamant in his position as a bystander and chooses not to return “Until Priam’s illustrious son Hector / Comes to the Myrmidons’ ships and huts / Killing Greeks as he goes and torching the fleet” (The Iliad 271), but still chose to return after only learning of Patroclus’ death. As indicated by the painting from Charles-Antoine Coypel (1797), Achilles is fueled with determination without showing any hesitation or concern for his safety. The knowledge of death has fueled his spirit to take action.
Achilles was able to regain his resolve to fight without while wagering his life, but Gilgamesh, however, chooses to delay his death and run away from the problem. In contrast to Achilles, Gilgamesh’s strong personality began to deteriorate after Enkidu’s death. When Gilgamesh encountered the scorpion monsters in Tablet IX, “He covered his face” when he “saw their fearsomeness and terror”. (The Epic of Gilgamesh 135) This is a notable difference to his reaction towards Humbaba, where he stated that “Humbaba’s features have grown more grotesque, / We strode up like heroes to vanquish him.” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 121) Against Humbaba, Gilgamesh reacted to its appearance but still had the motivation to kill it, whereas he had to “took hold of himself” (The Epic of Gilgamesh 135) in order to just approach the scorpion monsters. The knowledge of death has paralyzed his spirit, prompting him to take caution.
The Iliad and the Epic of Gilgamesh are two ancient poems that focused on the theme of mortality and utilizes it to remind both the characters and the audience of their own mortality. One instance of the theme being shown in the stories is through the reactions of the main protagonists after the death of their close friend. Both Achilles and Gilgamesh chosen to ruin their appearances with dirt and dust, which is a strong resemblance to the act of destroying their humanity and life. The use of dirt also closely resemble the starting act of burying oneself into the ground, a procedure used primarily for corpses. After their emotional reaction to the deaths, their personality began to change. Achilles chooses to stop his passiveness, but Gilgamesh chooses to take caution as he tries to escape his mortality. This contrast shows the two paths that humans can take when they are confronted with the possibility of death, where they can either act without regrets or act with fear. Through the actions shown in the Iliad and the Epic of Gilgamesh, the theme of mortality is clearly shown, stressing the importance of being conscious of one’s mortality and how one should act with that knowledge.
Works Cited
Puchner, Martin, ed. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd. Vol. A. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2012. Print.
“The Epic of Gilgamesh.” Puchner, Martin. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Trans. Benjamin R. Foster. 3rd. Vol. A. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2012. 99-151. Print.
“The Iliad.” Puchner, Martin. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. 3rd. Vol. A. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2012. 230-331. Print.
