In reading the Epic of Gilgamesh, we are introduced to a great hero named Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh proved his power throughout the whole story by killing the bull of heaven, killing Humbaba the terrible and journeying to Utanapishtim. Once he is faced with the tragedy of his best friend Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh starts to fear death as well. He then decides to journey and seek immortality from Utanapishtim: “I began to fear death, and so roam the winderness….. The issue of Enkidu, my friend, oppresses me….. Am I not like him? Will I lie down never to get up again?” (Gilgamesh, 89) Gilgamesh is so consumed with being immortal, however after he meets with Utanapishtim he realizes that death is inevitable.
In the New York Times article “Still on Duty at Ground Zero, the Indomitable Nurse Reggi”, Mary Regina Shane known as Nurse Reggi, had survived both World Trade Center attacks in 1993 and 2001. Even at the site of tragedy Nurse Reggi still wanted to do her job at Ground Zero. “Ms. Shane returns to the site every morning as part of a medical team to mend the cuts, bruises and burns of construction workers rebuilding it.” Like Gilgamesh she realized that overcoming a tragedy shouldn’t stop your life but should make you that much more grateful of what you have. At the end of the day they both became better people because of it.
New York Times “Still on Duty at Ground Zero, the Indomitable Nurse Reggi”
By Michael Wilson, Published September 10,2010
The story of Nurse Reggi is very striking because of her consistent devotion to duty. And Gilgamesh does seem to become more conscious of his duties as a ruler as a result of Enkidu’s death and his journey to see Utnapishtim. However, Nurse Reggi seems to have done her duty from the beginning; is that true of Gilgamesh?