In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the concept of limits is prevalent. Gilgamesh is portrayed as a being superior to man. No one could challenge Gilgamesh and be considered his equal. He was “supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance” (Gilgamesh, 60), however, only “two-thirds of him is god, one-third of him is human (Gilgamesh, 60). His one-third human side placed a limit on him. In the end, even with his countless victories because of his strength and the help he received from several individuals and gods such as, Enkidu, Shamash, Urshanabi, and Utanapishtim, Gilgamesh realized his own limitations. When he realized, he attempted to overcome this limit of time by searching for immortality but failed to do so. This failure only confirmed Gilgamesh is bound to limits of time.
In a New York Times article, “Chicago’s ‘Mayor for Life’ Decides Not to Run”, Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago is shown to be similar to Gilgamesh. Mayor Daley was “perhaps the very definition of a strong mayor with almost absolute command” and was believed to be a “Mayor for Life”, however, similarly he is bound to limits of time. Mayor Daley ran and was elected as mayor for six terms but when he decided on whether or not to run for a seventh term, he realized his limit of time. Mayor Delay said “Simply put, it’s time, time for me. And time for Chicago to move on. I’ve done my best. Now, I’m ready to begin the next phase of our lives.” Lastly, Mayor Daley has a choice to move on, but Gilgamesh did not.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08daley.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Mayor%20for%20life&st=cse
Saulny, Susan. “Chicago’s ‘Mayor for Life’ Decides Not to Run.” New York Times 8 Sep. 2010, New York ed.: A16. Print.
Both Gilgamesh and Mayor Daley are strong leaders and to that extent the comparison is valid. But Mayor Daley is choosing to leave office; he could have stayed. Can Gilgamesh choose whether or not to die?