Throughout time literature has been portrayed as a way writers address philosophical ideas. Each writer specifically addresses his or her own interpretations of the reoccurring motifs of life. The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Inferno are works of literature that have been influencing culture since the time they were published. The Epic of Gilgamesh alludes to the idea that death can be seen apart from objectively. Whereas, The Inferno highlights temptations and its punishments through a spiritual journey into the nine circles of hell. In a comparison of The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Inferno, both authors writing reflects themes of lust, guidance, and death. In both pieces of literature, it is evident that lust is an inhumane behavior, resulting in a consequence.
Undoubtedly, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, the first lustful encounter is between Enkidu and Shamhat. We come to know that Enkidu’s character described a man who was extremely hairy and had never come in contact with humans, resembling much of a wild animal. However, a prostitute was presented before Enkidu which tempted him. He quickly became mesmerized as “his lust groaned over her; for six days and seven nights” In this specific scenario, lust was used to entice Enkidu animalistic ways and bring him closer to humanity. Similarly, in The Inferno, we are introduced to this theme when Dante travels to the second circle known as the lustful. It states in the text that they “have been condemned the sinners of the flesh, those who surrender reason to self-will.” In other words, the sinners in the second circle were brought there due to their lack of human will or animal-like behavior.
On behalf of both the writings, the idea of lust is portrayed as a beastly act of infidelity. The difference between the two works is the outcomes of such an act. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, it led to the kindling friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Whereas in The Inferno it led to an afterlife of suffering. It becomes evident that the beliefs and the historical background in which the literature formed from had affected the message of the text as a whole. In addition to lust, the protagonist character gains a greater understanding of themselves through guidance. For instance, Gilgamesh has a vivid unsettling dream that leads him to his mother for answers. She put his mind to ease by expressing “You loved him and embraced him as a wife; and it is he who will repeatedly save you” Later we learn that Enkidu is the one who would save Gilgamesh not only from danger but also from whom he had become. In other words, Enkidu guided him away from being an arrogant ruler into a rightful king of Uruk. In correlation, The Inferno expresses a similar characteristic of guidance between Dante and Vergil. Vergil leads Dante through the circles of hell where he acts as his protector. Within the text, Vergil is compared to a motherly figure because he acts as if “[he] cares much more for him than for [himself].” By comparing Vergil to a mother, it illustrates that he will guide Dante throughout his journey much like a mother would guide her son through life. Enkidu and Vergil play similar roles in each story by helping the main character realize a turning point within their life and to self-revelation.
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Lastly, the essence of fear is one of the main factors in which pushes both characters to become more insightful of the true meaning of their quest. Gilgamesh’s life changes drastically after his beloved friend passes. Due to the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh “began to fear death, and so roam the wilderness.” As a result, he then tried to avoid death by wishing to become immortal. Leading him to embark on a journey where he learns that death is unavoidable. On the contrary, we learn that Dante seeks to find God within the nine circles of hell. He exclaims that “I found myself deep in a darkened forest, for I had lost all trace of the straight path.” It can be inferred that the dark woods represent Dante’s fears and the losing sight of his path represents his journey to enlightenment. Both readings express fear and how it motivates the protagonist to grow as a character. However, Gilgamesh grows when he realizes death is inevitable and he must fulfill his fate of being a noble king. Whereas, Dante grasps a higher understanding of God and the consequences of sins.
