Nadal is champion of the tennis world; he is the youngest player to win all three majors in the same year. On the other hand Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk who wants to build an empire that will last forever. Nadal also wants to win the US open championship because it was the only title that he had not won also by wining he would be in an elite club which not a lot people can reach.
To accomplish their goal both Nadal and Gilgamesh have a remarkable victory. Nadal’s victory came this past Monday over Novak Djokovic in the US open final. During the two weeks of competition Nadal’s effort was noticeable because he won his previous matches very easily. It was not until the last match that he lost a set, but he was able to rebound and finally won his long dreamed US open singles title. Similarly, in the Epic, Gilgamesh travels long distances to fight an enemy named Humbaba. As a result, Gilgamesh is able to cut down the cedar trees and bring them to his kingdom.
They also have to overcome their weaknesses. Gilgamesh’s weakness is his fear of Hunbaba. While in the forest Gilgamesh has dreams that a monster is attacking him, but his friend keeps telling him that his dreams are positive and that they will come up victorious. Nadal had his own problems; for example his knee injury which kept him for limited competitions throughout last year. Also, he had some personal problems where he could not completely concentrate on the competition.
At the end both of them have a sense of pride about what they have accomplished. In the New York Times article Nadal states, “But I feel clearly much more at home in New York than in 2001.” (The New York Times Wednesday, September 15, 2010, B16) Gilgamesh has a sense of pride when he says to the boatman
“Go, Urshanabi, onto the wall of Uruk and walk around.
Examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly—
Is not even the core of the brick structure of Kiln-fired brick,
And did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plan?
One league city, one league palm gardens,
One league lowlands, the open area of the Ishtar Temple,
Three leagues and the open area of Uruk the wall encloses.” (A, 97)
These lines above show us how proud Gilgamesh is of his kingdom, and he offers his realm to the boatman by saying this is my city, my place.
