Darmok

The Epic of Gilgamesh and a recent article “U.S. Debates Karzai’s Place in Fighting Corruption”, taken from the New York Times, have many parallels with each other.

First of all, the main character of the Epic, Gilgamesh, is a king of Uruk whom the Gods made very strong and powerful, whom they “granted … the totality of knowledge of all” (Damrosch, p. 59). Even though it is provided by the Gods, Gilgamesh misuses his power and oppresses his own people: “[he] does not leave a son to his father, … [he] does not leave a girl to her betrothed” (Damrosch, p. 60). So, exploited and anxious, people seek help from the Gods. Similarly in the article, the Afghan government, originally empowered by “the billions of dollars in [the US] government money that flows into Afghanistan each year”, “abuses ordinary Afghans”, and due to its wrongdoings “fuels anger among Afghans and drives many into the ranks of the insurgency” (Mazzetti, Nordland, 2010).

Despite of all misdeeds however, the Gods don’t want to simply eliminate Gilgamesh all together. On the contrary, they still prefer him to remain in power. Therefore, to restrain Gilgamesh the Gods send Enkidu who is “equal to Gilgamesh’s stormy heart”; thus, they can “be a match for each other so that Uruk may find peace” (Damrosch, p.61). In the same way, the US need “to maintain ties with the Afghan government” (Mazzetti, Nordland, 2010); hence, Karzai is assisted to become a president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, so he can follow the advises of “the Gods” (meaning the US) and “root the corruption in its own government”.

Even though both “Gilgamesh-Enkidu” and “Afghan Government-Karzai” relations are destined to be those of foes, the parts still manage to become friends at the end, joining their enormous powers to fight other enemies, such as Humbaba and the Taliban.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/world/asia/15corruption.html?scp=1&sq=us%20debates%20afghan&st=cse

In the Epic, Gilgamesh is a king who is two-thirds God and one-third human, making him a very powerful being. Although he may not be liked by all the people of Uruk, he is unquestionably respected by them. As a result of this respect Gilgamesh has a certain responsibility to the people. He must accomplish victory in his quest to destroy the evil monster Humbaba who occupies a forbidden forest and is said to be undefeated. The fact that no one is known to leave this forest alive makes it more difficult for Gilgamesh to achieve what he sets out to do. When he finally slays the mighty monster, who is said to be “undefeated”, the victory is a great one. Overpowering someone weak doesn’t have the same feeling of success as defeating someone extremely strong. Gilgamesh takes great pride in destroying Humbaba and accomplishing his duty to the people of Uruk.

In a New York Times article titled Nadal savors his career grand slam is a story about a man who also overcomes obstacles in the quest of sheer victory. As the winner of the United States Open, Rafael Nadal is certainly basking in the glory of being king of the tennis court. Just like Gilgamesh who was a powerful king, Nadal had a few problems standing in the way of his quest to win such an important championship.  “Everybody has obstacles, but Rafa’s had his knees and his personal problems and physical problems of last year. I think all that only makes this sweeter for him.” (NYT)Through all his troubles Rafael Nadal won the US Open and just like the people of Uruk were proud of Gilgamesh, Nadal’s fans were surely pleased.

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.

New York Times:

The Epic of Gilgamesh can be compared to an article in the New York Times, Gates to Meet With Russian Defense Minister Serdyukov, by Gates representing Gilgamesh and Serdyukov as Enkidu. During the Cold War Gates and Serdyukov were adversaries, now they are finally beginning to see eye to eye. This relationship is similar to the one between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, they start out as enemies and eventually become friends. The Epic of Gilgamesh says, “They grappled with each other at the entry to the marital chamber, in the street they attacked each other, the public square of the land. The doorsteps trembled and the wall shook. … They kissed each other and became friends.” (66-67) This shows how the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu quickly changes from foes to friends. Another comparison would be how Serdyukov does not have a lot of experience in the military, just as Enkidu came from the wild and did not have much experience with slaying. The New York Time states that Serdyukov “had more experience in the furniture industry than with the military,” likewise Enkidu lived with the animals before he met Gilgamesh and ventured out to slay Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. Also, Enkidu slaying Humbaba resembles Serdyukov’s goal of reducing the size of his military and changing to a streamline command structure. In both of these situations both, Enkidu and Serdyukov, are doing, or have done, something that differs from what they would have done in the past. Lastly, the New York Times states, “’The entire military hates him, and that is not an overstatement,’ said Aleksandr Golts, an independent military analyst in Moscow. ‘That which Serdyukov is doing is a challenge to the Russian military culture as a whole, the culture that is based upon the idea of a mass-mobilization army starting with Peter the Great,’” this shows that Serdyukov’s military does not agree with his new plan to alter the Russian army. Which is similar to how the God’s felt about Enkidu after he killed Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. Enkidu was created to stand up to Gilgamesh not befriend him, this happening angered the God’s. These comparisons show how similar the situation between Gates and Serdyukov is to Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the Epic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/world/europe/15military.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gates%20and%20russian%20counterpart&st=cse

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem of a friendship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh, who are both “two-third god and one-third human.” (60)   Before Enkidu arrives, Gilgamesh terrorized the people of Uruk.  One day Anu, the sky god, tells the goddess of creation to make someone equal to Gilgamesh after the people called for help.   Aruru, goddess of creation, created Enkidu out of the wild animals.  He became a man when the harlot was sent to seduce him.  After a brief brawl, the two become great friends.

Everyone knows that death is an inevitable part of the human life.  Gilgamesh is upset because only the gods can live forever.  After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh is terrified about the day when his life comes to an end.  So his quest to Utnapishtim was for him to become immoral.  Even though both Enkidu and Gilgamesh learned that the only thing that last is fame or how a person affect others whether in a positive or negative way.  In Tablet VIII, Gilgamesh says to Enkidu “the paths going up to and down from the forest cedars all mourn you; the weeping does not end day or night.” (83)  As Enkidu is laying on his deathbed, Gilgamesh is pouring his heart out to his “brother”.  He is letting him know that people would not forget about him and will mourn his death forever.  The people will never forget the changes Enkidu brought onto them.

It’s been nine years since our country was attacked by terrorist.  September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten, and the people who lost their lives will never be forgotten as well.   And every year since the attack, there ahs been a memorial ceremony honoring the innocent who died as well as the brave who died trying to save their fellow American.  In the New York Times article “On Sept. 11 Anniversary Rifts Amid Mourning,” Michelle Obama was quoted from her speech giving in Shanksville, Pa., “We are here to celebrate the bravery of the passengers.”  The police officers and fire fighters were the bravest of them all.  They risked their lives for others.  At the end of the day,  it is what you do that people will remember you.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/nyregion/12sept11.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=9/11%20anniversary&st=cse