Darmok

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

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.

In The Epic , Gilgamesh is “two-thirds god and one-third human.” Therefore he has strength and power above the people of Uruk. Enkidu is created and taken to meet Gilgamesh, so that there will be someone who can stand up to his powers and greatness. However, when Gilgamesh meets Enkidu and becomes friends with him he decides to go out on a quest to kill Humbaba with Enkidu, because he knows that with their strengths combinded they will be able to defeat him and create a name for themselves. After this is done they go on to kill the Bull of Heaven which is sent on them by Princess Ishtar. These acts of killing anger the God’s who decide to have their revenge against Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

“In my dream Anu, Enlil, and Shamash held a council, and Anu spoke to Enlil: ‘Because they killed the Bull of Heaven and have also slain Humbaba, the one of them who pulled up the Cedar of the Mountain must die!’ Enlil said: ‘Let Enkidu die, but Gilgamesh must not die!'” (Gilgamesh, 79)

Therefore even though it was Gilgamesh’s idea to go out on the quest to kill Humbaba and he was the one who brought the Bull of Heaven onto them, it was Enkidu who was going to be killed for it. This is similar to a big topic in the news today. Many United States citizens are holding a grudge against Muslims because of the attack on the World Trade Center. People are threatening to burn books pertaining to the religion as well as protest the building of an Islamic religious center near the 9/11 memorial. This is unfair because the terroist group who preformed the attack on the United States is a very small fraction of people who study that religion. The United States is a diverse country with a wide variety of religions and to categorize the Muslim community here because of that small group is unfair. The Muslim citizens in the United States are as innocent as every other citizen and to hold them and their religion responsible is completely unethical.

“We’ve got millions of Muslim Americans, our fellow citizens, in this country,” Mr. Obama said. “They’re going to school with our kids. They’re our neighbors. They’re our friends. They’re our co-workers. And when we start acting as if their religion is somehow offensive, what are we saying to them?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/us/politics/11obama.html?ref=us

(Obama Tries to Calm Religious Tensions”

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story about the great king of Uruk named Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh “has seen everything” and “experienced all things;” however, he overuses his power to abuse people living in his kingdom (A 59). Consequently, the gods send Enkidu on the earth as form of an animal. After his transformation from an animal to a man, he seeks to stop the unethical practices that take place on earth. He fights with Gilgamesh, but soon after arguments are over, they become best friends forever as they start their journey traveling to Cedar Forest to find Humbaba. As “they stood at the forest’s edge gazing at the top of the Cedar tree and gazing at the entrance to the forest,” they plan how to kill him because he terrorized many people (A 73). Later on, they also kill the Bull of Heaven which indirectly caused death upon Enkidu. As a result of his death, Gilgamesh goes into depression. His best friend’s death inspired him to find a way to become immortal. He starts to travel to see the god Utnapishtim, who is the only one who became immortal. Gilgamesh “reached Mount Mashu” along the Road of the Sun he journey, and traveled “the Water of Death” (A 84-88). Gilgamesh is a man who travels to many places around the world, since he is the one who “has seen everything” (A 59).

The article from New York Times, “6 Days, 6 States, 6 Peaks” by Mark Aiken is about a man inspired by Alaskan claimer who reached the world’s Seven Summits in just 134 days. The author also wants to travel and hike. He says “My challenge would be to hike what I call the Six Summits — the highest point in each New England state.”

Both pieces of writing are about men who visit a lot. Gilgamesh has to travel to many locations in order to kill Humbaba in the Cedar Forest and to meet Utnapishtim in the place of Water of Death. Similarly, Mark Aiken decides to hike six mountains. He travels to  six states in order to pick “the highest elevations”.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/travel/05explorer.html?ref=travel

In the Epic of Gilgamesh storm and flood are presented. The New York Times article “Pakistan Flood Sets Back Infrastructure by Years,” by Carlotta Gall is also about flood. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story about King of Uruk who harshly dominates upon his people. Enkidu is sent by gods to stop the terror in the kingdom. After he exchanges arguments with Gilgamesh, they become friends.  Later on in the story, they kill the giant Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. “…I must travel on a road I don’t know! Until the time I go and return, until I reach the Cedar Forest , until I kill Humbaba the terrible…” (A 69). Along the way, Gilgamesh loses his companion with Enkidu. Then, Gilgamesh becomes very upset. The death of his friend leads him to ask a question how to become immortal. He meets with Utnapishtim who obeys the god and was saved by them from the damageable flood. “All day long the South Wind blew …, blowing fast, submerging the mountain in water, overwhelming the people like an attack” (A 93). The flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh is long and cause many destructions. “Six days and seven nights came the wind and flood, the storm flattening the land. When the seventh day arrived, the storm was pounding; the flood was a war–struggling with itself like a woman writhing (in labor)” (A 93).
Similarly, in The New York Times article, people in Pakistan try hard to block the water with stones in order to save their town. Many people had been affected by the flood. The situation is similar to what happen in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The flood in Pakistan makes many people to worry about how they will lead their daily lives including collecting food and water. Thus they are feeling that they are being attacked. In addition, the current flood in Pakistan is very destructive to the infrastructure of the country. This flood has ruined many things in the country including roads, bridges, schools, health clinics, electricity and communications. In fact, the damages that the flood has done affected 20 millions people. 

<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/world/asia/27flood.html?pagewanted=1&sq=flood&st=cse&scp=3>

Throughout history those with power attempt to control the fate of the weak. In Gilgamesh, the gods attempt to kill all humans through the Flood. This occurrence is present in Northeastern California where horses are being roundup in order to control it’s population.  “Instead of your bringing of the Flood, would that a wolf have appeared to diminish the people!” (A, 94) The Gods did not have to bring on the Flood to accomplish their goal when wolves could have easily brought the same result. In Northeastern California, helicopters and traps are used to capture and eventually move them to other states. The purpose is to control the population, but nature would eventually prevent the horse population from growing.

Horse Advocates Pull for Underdog in Roundups (A1, A9, A11)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/us/06horses.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=horse%20roundup&st=cse

Reflection

When I started reading The Epic of Gilgamesh I thought that Gilgamesh the King of Uruk would destroy the living world, but after I finished reading it I found out the opposite. Gilgamesh creates a kingdom that will prevail for many generations.  Although, it is not until the end that he realizes that he is mortal and starts thinking about sharing with his people.

Many parts of the poem are similar with the Holy Bible. For example, throughout the poem it is mentioned seven days and seven nights. The Bible states that it took God seven days and seven nights to create the world. Also, the Bible states that a flood took place in the history of human kind and only selected living creatures were saved in an ark. In the poem Utanapishtim was saved from a flood along with living creatures in a boat.

I think the bottom line of the poem is trying to tell us that we as humans being should live in peace and harmony, and if one of us has great powers we should leave something positive so that our predecessors follow our footsteps.

Connection

War is destruction, terror, evil and death. the New York Times article  states that President Obama had a meeting with  Middle East leaders to talk about ending the war that has prevailed between Palestinians and Israelis for decades.  This war can be compared to Humbaba In the Epic of Gilgamesh Humbba is described as:

“Humbaba’s roar is Flood

his mouth is Fire, his breath Death!

He can hear any rusting in his forest 100 leagues away!

Who would go down into his forest?

Who among even the Igigi gods can confront him?

In order to keep the Cedar safe, Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings” (A,68)

It tells us that Humbaba is an evil to society; therefore he should be eliminated. That is what the great king of Uruk decides to do, but in order to accomplish the task he needs help. The only person who can help him is Enkidu because he knows how to navigate the forest where the enemy is located. The former enemies decided to pursue this task even though they knew the danger that waited ahead. The only thing that was important to them was to leave a footprint that would be inerasable in our society.

the New York Times article  states  that,  “In some fashion , that is Mr. Netanyahu’s  own claim – that only someone like himself, with hawkish credentials, can and will produce lasting peace  because only such a leader can bring his people with in him”  (New York times Thursday, September 2, 2010.)  Mr. Netanyahu seems to be willing to end this war, but he needs help to accomplish this difficult task. Therefore, it is important that the leaders of our society reunite and come together because they might know something about the enemy as Enkidu knew how to navigate in the forest. So coming together as one is a major step to solve the problem that is affecting the land of our civilization.  If together these leaders are able to put an end to the destruction they will leave a footprint that will be remembered for the generations to come.

Click to read the article: New York Times.

Your assignment for the week of September 6 is to read Gilgamesh and connect it to an article published in that week’s New York Times. Your blog post must include a citation from Gilgamesh, a link to the newspaper article, and a citation from the newspaper article. Please post it under the category “Gilgamesh.”