What is the main theme of The Epic of Gilgamesh?
The primary theme of The Epic of Gilgamesh is that of love and friendship, and how it can make people change for the better. In the beginning of the tale, Enkidu is an arrogant, self centered warrior, and Gilgamesh is a tyrannical king who bullies his people. Over the source of the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship causes them to see the better parts of themselves. Gilgamesh causes Enkidu to change into a better, more noble man instead of a savage, and Enkidu brings out the more heroic qualities in Gilgamesh. Their own unique qualities complement each other, and the love they have for each other causes them to improve.
This love can extend to more than just people; places can also be loved and facilitate change. Gilgamesh is tempted at one point to leave the Earth, but eventually decides to forfeit his chance for immortality and return to his kingdom of Uruk. In the end of the tale, he looks upon the city, remarking at its beauty to the ferryman Urshanabi – "Go up, 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!” (Tablet XI)
Compare and contrast the concept of knowledge in the following two statements. Are there any similarities? In what way these two concepts of knowledge and enlightenment challenge your common sense?
Jesus said: "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." John 9:39
Knowledge, in this passage, is interpreted as the “sight” Jesus provides to the unbelievers – “those who do not see.” However, those who are believers and assume they know what Jesus wants and knows - “those who do see” - need to be blinded to that perception in order to be truly informed by Him. In that way, enlightenment can be reached. According to common sense, my knowledge does not need to be reevaluated, as it wastes time and effort relearning something I already know. However, I may not know it as well as I believe I do, and therefore it needs reevaluating.
Lao Tzu said: "The Master helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know."
This passage helps to enlighten my own thoughts about knowledge – that what I may think I know I do not know, and that sometimes I need to “lose” what I know in order to regain it. Common sense tells me that I know what I know, and that I should not have to lose it, which creates a conflict for me in this passage. Like in the Bible passage, I do understand the concept that sometimes reinvention and reevaluation of one’s world is necessary in order to acquire true knowledge. Sometimes what we desire can get in the way of that, as we color our perceptions to fit whatever truth we want.
Keep your mouth closed. Guard your senses. Temper your sharpness. Simplify your problems. Mask your brightness.
Be at one with the dust of the earth. This is primal union.
He who has achieved this state
Is unconcerned with friends and enemies,
With good and harm, with honor and disgrace. This therefore is the highest state of man.
Explain how you understand this passage and whether or not the values expressed here are in opposition to the dominant values of your society.
I take this passage to be a treatise on grace and philosophical behavior in man – a guide to living in a truly enlightened way. I do believe this is in direct opposition to how society works in the twenty-first century, as it calls for a change from that particular mindset into a calmer, more relaxed one. In today’s society, people are concerned greatly with image, with taking sides, and being on top of everyone else. Success is the currency of modern man, and people often have a sense of overconfidence to them. People feel the need to get ahead, and need to step on others to do it.
With this passage, however, people are urged to humble themselves to others, and to keep life simple. “Primal union” means reaching a state where you are conscious to the problems and concerns of the world at large, instead of focusing in on yourself. When you achieve that, you are “unconcerned with friends and enemies,” meaning that you do not classify people into who can help you, and who works against you. You simply let people be, and exist alongside them in harmony. This is what I take to be the primary message of this passage.
What is the theme of Euripides’s Alcestis?
Alcestis is ultimately about death – The events of the play revolve around Death as a character, and how Alcestis is about to die, dies, and then comes back to life. The play also deals with the necessity for mourning. Alcestis asks for her husband Admetus to not revel or perform any merry-making after she dies, in order to mourn her properly. The entire play is a struggle with Death, from both those who are struggling with it directly (Alcestis) and those who have to mourn her passing (Admetus, Apollo). The chorus says to Admetus that he must deal with Alcestis’ death, no matter how hard it is for him. “You are not the first and will not be the last to lose a noble wife. We all are doomed to die.” (Euripides, 448 BCE)
Admetus, at one point, states that “vainly do old men pray for death, regretting their age and the long span of life. If death draws near, none wants to die, and age is no more a burden to him.” (Euripides, 448 BCE) This comments on the finite nature of life, and how, as time goes on, death is often wished for as an end to misery. However, as the reality of it sets in, and the inevitability comes over someone, their earthly troubles are suddenly preferable to being dead.
What is the main theme of Sophocles’ Antigone?
Antigone has many different themes, but I would say that the primary one is individualism, especially in defiance of the state. If someone feels they have something personal to do (Antigone burying her brother), they should be able to do it, regardless of what laws and rules are put in place to prevent it. Creon presents the opposite end of the spectrum, believing laws and rules to be the essence of a governed society – “No man can be fully known, in soul and spirit and mind, until he hath been seen versed in rule and law-giving.” (Sophocles, 442 BCE)
Antigone’s defiance is evidence of a need for personal obligation and emotional release over her duties to her society. She will not let anyone prevent her from this duty, going off on her own to bury Polyneices. She is severely punished for this, being buried alive by the state, but her convictions ring true. She ends up hanging herself to end her misery, and would rather do that than acquiesce to Creon’s demands. The chorus says of her that “the maid shows herself passionate child of passionate sire, and knows not how to bend before troubles.” (Sophocles, 442 BCE) Her strength of character allows her to go on this personal quest that serves the needs of the individual before all else.
Works Cited
"Epic of Gilgamesh." Academy for Ancient Texts. Ancient texts library.. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/>.
Euripides. "The Internet Classics Archive | Alcestis by Euripides." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 searchable works of classical literature. 438 BCE. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/alcestis.html>.
Sophocles. "The Internet Classics Archive | Antigone by Sophocles." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 searchable works of classical literature. 442 BCE. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html>.
