Throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh the character Gilgamesh exudes masculinity and a deep seeded fear of mortality. Gilgamesh’s life has left him to expect the world to revolve around his needs. While he inevitably learns from his relationship with Enkidu, throughout the epic, he acts on impulse. This behavior provides insight that Gilgamesh does not think much before he acts, but as time goes on, this changes. Gilgamesh is faced with many battles in which he deems unfit, but the true battle he must face is mortality and his personal existential dread. Gilgamesh’s battle with Humbaba only further inhibits his fear of death.
The key theme of existential dread was especially expressed after Gilgamesh meets Enkidu, travels with Enkidu, and goes through the death of Enkidu. His own personal journey leaves a lasting impact on his character and shows how dynamic he becomes throughout the epic. Gilgamesh’s actions and characterization depicts how in reality, life is finite. Gilgamesh must learn that life will inevitably end, no matter how strong, powerful, or masculine he believes he is. The impact of mortality on Gilgamesh’s psyche changes how he behaves; this, in turn, changes Gilgamesh from an impulsive thinker to a thought provoking character.
While Enkidu traveled to Uruk to find Gilgamesh and fight him, proving that he is worthy, Enkidu ends up befriending Gilgamesh, as Ninsun predicted. Before meeting Enkidu, Gilgamesh did not have many internal struggles or conflicts. He was very simple minded and did the impulsive things he enjoyed, like raping women and sacrificing soldiers. Gilgamesh was created to be almost perfect. He was created and “two-thirds of him was divine, one-third of him was human!… / He was perfection in height, ideally handsome” (24, 1, 50, 54-55). Gilgamesh was born to be a great force, yet he was also created to inevitably die, as all humans are. Before meeting Enkidu, Gilgamesh was living life as a powerful and nearly perfect being, but Enkidu made him realize that there is more to life than living for pleasure whether it is killing or raping. Once Enkidu became Gilgamesh’s friend, he became more aware of his surroundings. This was new to Gilgamesh, shown within the text, stating, “Now then my friend, do you say the same: / ‘I am afraid to die’?” (35, 2, 232-233). This is the first time that Gilgamesh acknowledges the concept of his own mortality. Gilgamesh making this astute observation shows that he is starting to think of life as a finite concept instead of an ongoing voyage. As the text continues Gilgamesh continues to spiral down and have an awakening about his own mortality.
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As Enkidu and Gilgamesh ventured to the Cedar Forest to fight Humbaba, Gilgamesh expresses “your heart should be urging you to battle. / Forget about death / He who marches first protects himself” (43, 4, 182-184). This expands upon how Gilgamesh clearly does not fear death nor interpret the fact that life is finite, he just cares about how he is perceived. The reason Gilgamesh urges Enkidu to battle is to prove to the world how strong he is; although he does not come to terms with the fact that he is mortal. As the battle begins and ends, Gilgamesh continues to be oblivious of his own mortality and how that affects his life. As time continues, Gilgamesh begins to become more of a dynamic character. His motives and actions become reflective of society, all societies and people face the harsh reality that death is going to occur. This was not prominent in Giglamesh’s thoughts, but once Enkidu began dreaming about the Gods meeting, he knew something was wrong. The text expresses how Enkidu falls ill, stating “The day he had the dream, his strength ran out. / Enkidu lay there one day, a second day he was ill” (55, 8, 159-160). After dreaming that the Gods wanted Enkidu dead, he falls ill and inevitably dies. This forced Gilgamesh to personally experience death, and show how he truly feels about mortality.
Once Gilgamesh is faced with the brutal reality of his friend dying, he realizes that he must face death alone. Gilgamesh begins weeping endlessly for his friend Enkidu, he has become overcome with sorrow, “Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu? / Oh woe has entered my vitals! / I have grown afraid of death” (57, 9, 3-5). Gilgamesh feels sorrow for his loss but due to his selfish thoughts, he begins to express how he worries for himself. He begins expressing that he fears his own mortality as well, will he one day die? As previously stated, he was two parts divine, one part human; he was mortal, and was worried that he would one day be gone. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh’s dynamic character becomes exposed as a scared mortal. He is nothing more than a coward who will one day die. But, as a dynamic character, Gilgamesh was not going to allow himself to be seen as someone who gives up the challenge of eternal life; he begins to search for immortality. In searching for immortality, he was shot down by many, including a tavern keeper, stating “The eternal life you are seeking you shall not find” (61, 10, 69). Gilgamesh does not accept this tavern keepers word. Instead, he searches for Utanapishtim to ask for immortality through a challenge.
Gilgamesh ultimately does not finish the challenge Utanapishtim offered successfully, but the challenge teaches Gilgamesh something more important than immortality. Through being challenged, Gilgamesh learns the importance of living life and being remembered for the good things you accomplish while you are alive. As he returned to Uruk, he learned to appreciate mortality. He finally establishes a relationship with Uruk, as the place he will be remembered by. Gilgamesh states as his final thoughts, “Go up, Ur-shanabi, pace out the walls of Uruk. / Study the foundation terrace and examine the brickwork. / Is not its masonry of kiln-fired brick? / And did not secen masters lay its foundations?” expressing his passion and realization of the true beauty of life. He was not granted eternal life, but he was granted a great life to embark on with his friend. He realizes that Uruk was the main good thing he had done and allows him to feel some pleasure.
Although Gilgamesh consistently boasts about his accomplishments, he truly feels like every mortal on earth; scared of their inevitable demise. Gilgamesh’s personal journey leaves a lasting impact on his character which shows how dynamic he becomes throughout the epic. Gilgamesh’s characterization depicts how in reality, life is finite and all people must come to that realization. The relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is what shapes Gilgamesh into the character who can accept that he will inevitably die.
