Gorzney 1
Sarah Gorzney
Mrs. Lamp
AP English 12
August 15, 2013
Gilgamesh Themes
A major theme in the epic poem Gilgamesh, translated by Herbert Mason, is that everyone dies eventually and no one can outrun death. This is a key theme in the novel because the aspect of death is always haunting the characters. Enkidu is afraid of death, but right away he accepts it is inevitable. As he lies on his deathbed, he tells Gilgamesh that he needs to learn this as well or he will lose himself in a quest to become immortal. Just as Enkidu warns, Gilgamesh does go on this quest in a pursuit to stay immortal and find a way to bring Enkidu back. He finally does find what he is looking for: a plant that will grant him immortality but he loses it when it is eaten by a snake. Knowing that his quest has ended in failure, he returns home with the knowledge that he and everyone else will eventually die. But when he arrives home to to his city, he sees the great walls his people have built and is amazed. He and reader learn the though the human dies, humanity lives on and will stay strong.
Another theme is that love is powerful. The love shared between the prostitute and Enkidu was able to tame his wild character and make him a civil human being. The love and companionship that Enkidu and Gilgamesh have for each other empowers them to go on a grand quest and protect and care for one another. It helps them to do great things and face their fears when they fight Humbaba and the the bull of heaven. And when Enkidu dies, the love and sorrow Gilgamesh goes through drives him into madness and sends him on a deranged quest to bring Enkidu back. The reader learns that love is a powerful emotion that can cause one to do crazy things they normally would not do.