He drew closer to civilization by interacting with human beings and this climaxed in wrestling match with Gilgamesh. There occurs a turning point in Enkudu’s life. Later on in the poem, he interacts with human beings and starts to get used to the new environment. He knows very little about other human beings and their way of life. An example of such a change is evident in Enkidu who was believed to be an introvert formed from clay and siliva by Aruru.Īt first, Enkidu is portrayed as a very wild man who was brought up by animals. This theme motivates changes within the characters. Love is seen as a major theme in the Epic of Gilgamesh. It also makes parallels between the Mesopotamian society and the modern one in terms of both themes under discussion.
This paper seeks to discuss how the themes of love and power permeate the poem. The epic portrays how Gilgamesh, an arrogant and oppressive leader, met and made friends with a savage called Enkidu who had in turn a tremendous impact on his life. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, who ruled the empire between 27 BCE. The Epic of Gilgamesh is perhaps one of the oldest epic poems that were ever recorded. This form of male chauvinism shows similar traits among the rulers of the present day society and those in the Mesopotamian society. Women were usually given the role of doing house chores and making sure that their husbands are attended to. Another notable attribute of the male rulers is their oppression of women. Most recorded stories have shown that people in power proclaimed themselves as deities in an attempt to show superiority to others. The ancient Mesopotamian societies depicted love and power in many areas. On realizing that he can never have again his great friend by his side, the king cries in grief and embarks on a journey to achieve his immortality. These two themes become very evident and obvious when Enkidu dies. The theme of love can be traced in the behavior of these two friends as well.Īs a sign of platonic love for his new-found friend, Gilgamesh offers Enkidu a portion of his treasures and shares his power with him. He considered himself to be God which led to the fact that he perceived himself much superior to others.Įnkidu, another man who is also depicted in the Epic of Gilgamesh as having a power in terms of how he treated his companions, meets King Gilgamesh in some of the scenes in the epic ensuing their unrivalled friendship later. Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, was a tyrant and a leader who greatly oppressed his charges.
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