While the Odyssey has been the topic of conversation in class of late I would like to reminisce about the Epic of Gilgamesh and our other hero, Gilgamesh himself. Rather, I would like to compare and contrast the two heroes from the epics we have read thus far and perhaps compile a list of similarities and differences between them.
To begin, both Gilgamesh and Odysseus are well established and known in their respective realms. Gilgamesh is renowned as a harsh tyrant who rules over his people with an iron fist, putting himself first and the health and wellbeing of his disciples second. Odysseus on the other hand is well respected among his peers as the King of Ithaca and is known as a brave and commanding warrior. Both heroes seem to possess Godlike qualities as well. Gilgamesh, who is in fact part God boasts about his strength and lineage with the Gods as well as towers over his mortal counterparts. Odysseus however is more so respected as a God for his prowess in battle and unwavering courage. Whenever either of these characters walk into a room, they demand the utmost respect. A major difference I stumbled upon is the way in which each hero goes about conquering the enemy. While Gilgamesh relies on brute strength to defeat the likes of Humbaba, Odysseus uses wit and cunning to bring upon victory (as seen by the duping of Polyphemus). What other similarities or differences could be inferred between these two epic heroes? Perhaps note any similarities or differences between the epics themselves. An example would be the fact that both arcs describe the interference of certain Gods who have encouraged, assisted, or pushed the two heroes about the courses they should take in their respective journeys.
Hi, Nik!
You bring up a great point by comparing and contrasting these two heroes from the Epic of Gilgamesh as well as the Odyssey. It didn’t even occur to me to make that comparison just because of how different these characters are and how much they deviate from each other’s personality. I wouldn’t even go as far as putting them on a similar base as Odysseus is wise and cunning, while Gilgamesh was evil and a bad ruler. I do, however, see your point of differences between the two, and they’re quite valid. Gilgamesh did indeed try to win against his enemies by force, while Odysseus uses different tactics based on his intelligence, and that’s what makes him the reliable and loved character that we see all throughout the Odyssey. I personally have an attachment to his personality, or at least the way he’s portrayed in the epic, and feel so much sympathy towards him. That might be the reason of bias and resentment towards Gilgamesh that doesn’t allow me to see any similarities between the two (personal difference of opinion: so highly of one, so low of the other.) Great post!
I definitely agree with what you have said about Gilgamesh and Odyssey. After reading both works, I didn’t think about the different skills each king had used to gain honor. Now that I have read your post, it has led me to connect both works in a new light. We can see that in Gilgamesh’s case, in the beginning, he was seen as a bad ruler and a harassing bull. However, he uses his strength and his companion, Enkidu to defeat the monster in the forest. He is then celebrated instead. Odyssey, in the other hand, has used his cunning skills through the trojan horse to defeat the Trojans. His victory spreads like the wind and he gains honor and is well-respected. So perhaps, another similarity can be how each king had used their respective skills to change their reputation.