Collin’s Blog Post

There are very few things that can be considered immortal. Individuals for centuries have struggled with the idea of their impending death. What can they leave behind? How can they make their mark? In many cases it is not necessarily tangible items that stay behind after death and live on in the memories of individuals for centuries to come. Sometimes the most meaningful things are those that you cannot physically have and hold. The Epic of Gilgamesh has been around for thousands of years. Although the Epic may be a physical testament to Gilgamesh’s greatness, it is the story held within, which highlights the power of love and friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, that still seems to fascinate and draw the attention of mankind.

The power of friendship is a theme that has been put on “repeat” throughout the history of mankind. It weaves itself in and out of our individual stories, whether they be fiction or reality. In the Epic, the bond between Enkidu and Gilgamesh was inadvertently formed after the gods created Enkidu as a way to keep the power of Gilgamesh in check. In the end, Gilgamesh and Enkidu seem to balance each other out. One provides the other what they do not have; in a manner seemingly parallel to the balance found in yin/yang. Nevertheless, the story is riddled with numerous instances where their friendship does not seem to be on equal grounds.

In Tablet II Enkidu tries to persuade Gilgamesh not to go on the quest to kill Humbaba. He repeatedly says: “…That journey is not to be undertaken. That creature is not to be looked upon…Humbaba’s cry is the roar of a deluge, his maw is fire, his breath is death…” Gilgamesh responds to Enkidu’s pleads and is surprised by his objections. He says to Enkidu, “Why, my friend, do you raise such unworthy objections? Who, my friend can go up to heaven?” He continues on and tells Enkidu that he will take the lead in order to protect them. However, even after Enkidu pleads with the elders to not go on the journey he is told that he will lead the quest in order to guide and protect Gilgamesh. Ultimately Enkidu must put his life on the line during a quest he did not want to go on, in order to protect his best friend. This begs the question as to whether or not a balanced friendship would have one friend possibly having to sacrifice himself in order to save and protect the more “important” companion.

In Tablet VII Gilgamesh and Enkidu have returned from their triumphant quest. Not long afterwards however, Enkidu dreams about the gods in council. He describes to Gilgamesh how the gods decided that Enkidu will be the one to die as a result of their combined involvement with the bull and the cedar trees. When Gilgamesh learns of this he suggests to Enkidu that his death could be a greater burden for those who are still living and have to mourn his loss. He continues and says “What he [Enlil] commanded, he will not retract. The verdict he has scrivened, he will not reverse nor erase… People often die before their time.” Gilgamesh does not seem to be consoling nor trying to protect Enkidu at the level one might expect from someone who is about to lose their best friend as a result of one’s own actions. Why should Enkidu have to pay the price for something that he tried to talk Gilgamesh out of? Would it have been the right thing to do for Gilgamesh to try and take Enkidu’s place in the death sentence? This situation essentially calls into question the bond between Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Do you think the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was equal? Does friendship really have to be equal?