In tablet VIII, the audience was given a detailed depiction of the effect that Enkidu’s death has on Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is completely broken. The once strong, brave warrior we have come to know, is no more without Enkidu. It is as if a part of Gilgamesh had died along with Enkidu. Gilgamesh’s monologue uses detailed imagery of all the people, animals, and nature that will mourn Enkidu’s death. The author does this to show how important Enkidu was to the people of Uruk. Using this mournful tone of voice with Gilgamesh is also meant to evoke feelings out of the reader. Gilgamesh has everything going for him. He was a fearless, strong warrior but he has been brought to his knees by the death of his best friend. Even though Gilgamesh is supposed to be two-thirds divine, he seems like a just another heart-broken human. This showing of vulnerability has a large impact on him during the rest of his journey.
“I will have the people of Uruk shed bitter tears for you… And, as for me, now that you are dead, I will let my hair grow matted, I will put on a lion skin and roam the steppe!” In the beginning of the epic it was Epic it was Enkidu who became more like Gilgamesh, but now it is Gilgamesh who tries to be more like Enkidu out of respect. It seems like there is a pattern. When Enkidu’s old way of living died, he had a transformation, and now that Gilgamesh’s way of living with Enkidu died, he also goes through a transformation. Civilization and culture no longer mean anything to Gilgamesh, because he lost the love of his life.
Lastly, we see Gilgamesh pleading to the gods asking for Enkidu to be kept safe saying “May ninshuluhha, housekeeper of the underworld, accept this, may she welcome my friend and walk at his side” Many stories later in history involve civilizations trying to understand the afterlife, especially when a death seems unjust or happens too soon. The living are always attempting to intervene with the afterlife whether it be for a friend or for themselves. This is what Gilgamesh does for Enkidu in hopes that he is kept safe so that he can see him on the other side one day. The Dante’s Inferno series is a famous epic that uses this element perfectly to tell a more captivating love story.
The death of Enkidu clearly shows that the brave, strong and fearless Gilgamesh is still a human being (even though part of him is divine) who is afraid of death just like other people. Maybe, Gilgamesh’s reaction to Enkidu’s death is explainable since Enkidu was the only one who had similar power as Gilgamesh. Enkidu’s death showed Gilgamesh that even someone like Enkidu who used to be as strong as Gilgamesh, could die too. As it is written in Tablet VIII 49-50, Gilgamesh finally realised the fear of death, the eternal sleep that has seized Enkidu. However, it was too late. Enkidu was already dead and the dead can not hear or say a word. So, the death of Enkidu was the starting point of Gilgamesh’s new journey- the journey for eternal life.
And i think people in ancient times tried to understand death as a form of another phase of their life. As you mentioned, people may believed or wanted to believe that those friends or families they lost during their lifetime could be met once they’re dead too. This is why Jesus Christ’s revival and his miracles on people are fascinating.