There have been numerous stories throughout the centuries of heroes who have struggled with inner and external conflicts and who have used different mediums to share their tales. Their journeys are different in many respects, but they all share the same qualities that define the role of a hero in any literature piece. Heroes continue to maintain their presences and their role in the stories that are told every day. The hero plays an interesting role in any piece of literatures and pulls the readers towards the plot. Gilgamesh is the typical hero who he survives the difficult journey. The journey is interesting as the selfish and self-centered Gilgamesh changes significantly throughout his journey. Despite the changes and the challenges that come to Gilgamesh, he remains a brave hero. While heroes possess many flaws and endure a number of challenges daily, there is no doubt that Gilgamesh represents the ideal hero that embodies the common characteristics of the hero who must face his fear of death, his fate and learn the value of friendship as he endures the departure, initiation and return that defines the hero’s journey.
Gilgamesh has many flaws and these flaws make him the ideal representation of a true hero. He is strong and brave on one hand, and on the other hand he is vulnerable. But, his strength makes him a brave king, and his selfishness, fear, vulnerability, and self-centered characteristics reveal the human side of Gilgamesh and make the readers appreciate his journey and the positive changes that come to Gilgamesh. To the contemporary reader, Gilgamesh represents the hero that the readers can relate to in many ways. The first stage of his epic journey shows his departure. In this stage of the hero’s journey Gilgamesh must first become separated from the world and the life that he knows. At this point, Gilgamesh continues to live as the selfish tyrant and he does as he does what he wants to do as the King of Uruk. He finds the routine ordinary and “his arrogance has no bounds by day or night” (Gilgamesh 4). Gilgamesh, in his quest for power knows no fear of death as he believes that he is immortal. He destroys families as: “No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all, even the children” (Gilgamesh 4). Similarly, “his lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior's daughter nor the wife of the noble” (Gilgamesh 4) and yet the people accepted his actions because of the fear he instilled in the people.
Clearly, Gilgamesh takes control of everything around that was within his reach as he believed that his immortality was sufficient to justify his actions. He is called to take on an adventure that would take him on a perilous journey. The hero’s journey begins for Gilgamesh after the people prayed to the god’s who gave them Endiku, Gilgamesh’s second half. Endiku was the solution to the problems that Gilgamesh created as he would serve as the balance to Gilgamesh’s character. The friendship between the two characters intensified as Endiku and Gilgamesh bond. The friendship represents the start of the hero’s journey as Gilgamesh receives the call to embark on an adventure and leave his normal life. Both Endiku and Gilgamesh travel through the Cedar Forest and kill the protector of the forest, Humbaba. Gilgamesh’s arrogance is still clear at this point as he tells his people: “I will kill Humbaba, the whole world will know how mighty I am” (Gilgamesh 4). His arrogance is unwavering and the readers realize that Gilgamesh firmly believes that he is immortal. At this point in the story Gilgamesh is still very arrogant and has not yet started to change his ways.
But, Gilgamesh’s arrogance is short lived and as he faces Humbaba, Gilgamesh’s fears are clear. His journey begins as he travels into the Cedar Forest. The changes in his character become apparent as he comes face to face with the reality that either he or Humbaba must die. Gilgamesh is intimidated by the presence of Humbaba. His strength and fearlessness wavers and he feels haunted and too afraid to go forward (Gilgamesh 10). These fears would be natural to the average hero, but Gilgamesh’s arrogance helps to break his spirits as he finally learns that he can experience fear. His actions prove that he is afraid and frightened by the presence of Humbaba. Endiku adds to this fear as he reminds Gilgamesh of the power and strength of Humbaba. The readers begin to develop some amount of sympathy for the character as he reveals that heroes have human qualities that allow them to experience fear and appear human. The first stage of the hero’s journey ends with this departure from Gilgamesh’s known characteristics as an arrogant and fearless leader and into one that knows how it feels to be afraid.
The readers are compelled to follow the events of the hero’s journey when there is the possibility that the hero may fail in his quest because of the risks and the dangers that come with the journey. Gilgamesh’s early fears disappear after he kills Humbaba, but his journey has just begun. He faces the ultimate hero’s challenge he begins to learn the value of friendship and the loss that can impact his life in many ways. Endiku has become the friend, brother and companion that help to change Gilgamesh’s life in many ways. Both characters form a friendship that helps to transform Gilgamesh and guide him along the acceptable path. The initiation and transformation stage helps Gilgamesh to accept that death will take away the friendships that have been formed out of love and respect. The journey at this stage is intense for the hero as he must begin to accept that he is not immortal. The encounter with the Bull of Heavens tests Gilgamesh in every way. Endiku’s death forces Gilgamesh to further question his mortality as he weeps for his brother and friend (Gilgamesh 14) because “an evil Fate has robbed me”(Gilgamesh 15) of his that which he held close to his heart. The hero’s journey allowed Gilgamesh to value friendship and develop love for others and yet he stands alone after Endiku’s death as he takes on the final challenge in the Inmost Cave. Gilgamesh attempts to find his immortality, but this does not happen. Nonetheless, he is rewarded for his tasks and he could become the hero that his kingdom truly needs to survive.
In concluding, Gilgamesh’s final journey involves his return. The journey taught him valuable lessons that helped to change his attitude towards life. He learns the value of friendship and he entertains this friendship for a period of time. It was this friendship that taught him to value the lives of others. But, Gilgamesh’s fate meant that he would have to suffer the loss of this friendship and face his fear or death in order to accept that he is not immortal. He takes “the road back” and it is not as difficult as it should be because his success on his journey allowed him to change completely. He goes back to his kingdom and his “ordinary” world where he is able to practice the lessons he learned on his journey. Arguably, the changes in Gilgamesh are inevitable because the hero’s journey teaches him the valuable and importance of others. He learns the most valuable lesson from Utnapishtim who attains immortality. Utnapishtim teaches him the value of the mortal life. The information allows him to accept that death is a part of life and that friendships are bonds that can change everyone’s life.
Reference
The Epic of Gilgamesh, (Trans. N.K. Sanders) Assyrian International News Agency, Books Online, Retrieved from www.aira.org 26 Mar 2016
