The Epic of Gilgamesh is renowned not only for the remarkable accomplishments of its protagonist, Gilgamesh, but also for its enduring relevance to human society and timeless themes. Literature throughout history has conveyed messages that continue to resonate with successive generations. The innate desire for greatness and recognition is an inherent aspect of human nature. While many individuals attain success but are eventually forgotten, there are those who are remembered for their extraordinary intellectual achievements or feats of skill for extended periods ranging from decades to centuries or even millennia.
Gilgamesh represents human nature and behavior, as he desires more out of life despite his good looks, wealth, and power. The Epic of Gilgamesh reflects our own journey through life and can be compared to other texts like the Bible and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in terms of characters’ burning desire for success. These stories demonstrate how throughout history, human nature has played a significant role in longing for what one does not possess.
In both the Bible and The Epic of Gilgamesh, there are examples that illustrate the human desire for recognition and gaining what one believes they deserve. One such example is the story of Jacob and Esau, where Jacob cunningly takes Esau’s birthright. Unsatisfied with his own inheritance, Jacob seeks to obtain the rights of the first-born son by offering Esau a deal in Genesis 25: 27-34. Similarly, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh desires fame through extraordinary feats like slaying Humbaba, the fearsome guardian of a forest. Encouraged by others who believe in his dream, Gilgamesh sees this as an opportunity to gain access to the forest’s cedar trees and eternal renown. Both Jacob and Gilgamesh exhibit a longing for more than their current possessions; Jacob seeks a larger share and recognition as the first-born while Gilgamesh aims for fame beyond measure.Despite possessing good looks, strength, and kingship, Gilgamesh felt the need to slay Humbaba in order to achieve fame and control over the cedar trees. Similarly, Jacob could have obtained part of the inheritance without usurping his brother’s birthright, and Gilgamesh could have gained access to the cedar trees without killing Humbaba. However, these less extreme actions were not satisfactory for either of them.
Adventure is a vital element in finding fulfillment in life. In Mark Twain’s novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Huck embraces life as a thrilling adventure and acts accordingly. He runs away from home and faces numerous dangers simply for the excitement it brings. Along with Tom, they set sail on a raft believing it to be the most freeing and comfortable place to be. Although Huck initially intends to live a conventional life, adhering to societal norms and acquiring good manners, he finds this unsatisfying. Instead, he seeks out adventure and believes that living on a raft would bring him greater contentment.
A similar theme of seeking adventure can also be observed in “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” The protagonist embarks on daring quests far away to conquer formidable foes such as the Bull of Heaven, Humbaba, and lions in treacherous mountain passes. Gilgamesh undertakes these adventures because he desires to extract maximum joy from life. Being solely confined within city walls as a king becomes monotonous and uninteresting for him. To experience thrilling exploits, Gilgamesh journeys to distant forests and even crosses perilous waters known as “the waters of death.” He quests for something that gives meaning to his existence.
This recurring theme teaches us that leading an ordinary life without any form of adventure is unlikely to bring fulfillment to any individual. It is akin to the feeling one gets while riding a roller coaster – living for anticipation and the rush of adrenaline.
All of Gilgamesh’s journeys were motivated by a thirst for adventure, with the exception of his final expedition which was dedicated to seeking eternal life.
Gilgamesh, although being two-thirds god, was unsatisfied and desired immortality. He yearned to live eternally, ensuring that he would never be forgotten. He asked, “Tell me honestly, how did you acquire godhood and everlasting life?” However, Gilgamesh is not alone in his longing for immortality; many tales depict a quest for the legendary Fountain of Youth. The water from this mythical fountain possesses the power to rejuvenate the aged and eliminate the inevitability of death. The fear of mortality and the longing to exist indefinitely have compelled individuals to go to great lengths in pursuit of prolonged life.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is undeniably historically relevant due to its connections with the Bible and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Even in today’s society, all three of these stories continue to hold relevance as people in our modern world are still eager for more and constantly seeking for greater things.
The desire for greater power, value, money, and sex drives various aspects of society such as science, technology, and economics. Similar to the ancient tale of Gilgamesh defeating Humbaba for personal glory, modern individuals boast about having intimate encounters with celebrities and claiming to have encountered extraterrestrial beings.
In our modern society, there persists a constant pursuit for immortality, indicating a collective inability to accept the inevitability of death. This desperate quest has led to a significant expansion in the healthcare industry, as individuals yearn for elongated youthful existence, seeking flawless skin even in their fifties and maintaining the ability to participate in sports well into their sixties and seventies. Simultaneously, people aspire to live well beyond a century. Gilgamesh, however, approaches this aspiration from a less scientific perspective, wherein he seeks out the god Utnapishtim and implores for immortality. In response, he is informed that he must acquire a portion of the everlasting life plant. Ultimately, Gilgamesh fails in his endeavor and must confront the inevitability of death. Although death will forever be an inescapable aspect of human society, our attitude toward it will determine our level of maturity.
The book effectively depicts timeless themes that remain relevant throughout history and today. The nature of humans remains unchanged, resulting in certain aspects of humanity being perpetually present. The fear of death always persists as it remains an unknown phenomenon that cannot be explained by the deceased. Additionally, the fear of the unknown persists due to potential harm. Furthermore, both men and women consistently view themselves as superior to nature since humans possess the ability to eradicate any living creature. The pursuit of more is eternal because true social Darwinism, survival of the fittest, exists. To sustain their livelihoods, individuals must always surpass the threshold of absolute poverty. From a human perspective, the more money one possesses, the greater the distance they must “fall” to reach below the poverty line. Essentially, there is a larger buffer zone in terms of economic status. Hence, certain inherent aspects of humanity will always exist in human societies.
The Epic of Gilgamesh meets the requirements for an epic by consistently discussing human society and conveying timeless themes and messages. Epics will always remain relevant because there are crucial aspects of humanity that cannot be overlooked. In our current era, it is undeniable that the world is experiencing rapid changes. However, humans are not adjusting appropriately, leading to various societal problems. It is essential for us to recognize and potentially modify the world in order to better accommodate humanity.
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