Plot Summary And Theme Analysis Of The Story Of Gilgamesh
The story is written long back around 2700 B. C. and is set on the ground of a city named Uruk whose ruler was very cruel and of lusty character named Gilgamesh. He has no respect for people of his kingdom. He even does not have respect for the girls and often demand them for many nights. When it become untolerable for the people of Uruk, they pleaded god and tells his entire sins and asked the god to help them out. Then god created a character almost beast and powerful like Gilgamesh to take revenge from him. Enkidu is created out of clay and water. He lives with wild animals on hills and with nature. One day a trapper came across Enkidu and got amused after seeing his power and get frozen out of fear. Enkidu was destroying his traps. He then returned and along his father went to Gilgamesh and narrated him whole incidence. Eventually Gilgamesh advised him to go there with a prostitute women and tells that if Enkidu get impressed with her, he will lose his power and wild animals will run away from him. Trapper does so and same thing happen, she seduces Enkidu and lives with him several nights. After words, Enkidu realised that he has become weak and wild animals are running awy from him.
He then asked the women to help and she tells him about life of humankind and take him to the Uruk. Enkidu blocked the way of Gilagamesh, both fought vigorously evnetually, Gilgamesh praised him for his power and both became good friends. They then decided to seize the cedar forest which is being guraded by lord Humbaba. They went there and defeated Humbaba. Even if humbaba pleaded for forgiveness, Enkidu killed him. After return from their success, godess of love, Ishtar invited Gilagamesh in her palace and proposed to marry with him, but he refused and insulted her. Out of anger, she asked her father to send Bull of heaven to his land to punish him. However they both managed to kill Bulls of heaven. After watching their mischievious behavior, gods decided one of them has to die. Eventually Enkidu dies and whole Uruk and Gilgamesh mourn for him and Gilgamesh get so pained after seeing his friend death that he decided to get immortal.
He went on a very difficult journey to get the secret of being immortal. He then accidentally meet with Utnapishtim who tells him about the story that how he and his family survived in devastating flood send by god to destroy humankind. The story as: Long time ago, god Enlil got infuriated with the noise of humankind and decided to punish them by bringing a massive flood and destry them. One night Utnapishtim dreams and get advice to gather 200 piles of wood and make a huge boat. He does same and made a boat with the help of his children and family member. Eventually flood came, everyone turned into clay except Utnapishtim and his family. After seeing the brutalness of Enlil, god decided to punish him and also give Utnapishtim, an immortal life. And thus he got this awaed of being immortal.
Utnapishtim then tells Gilgamesh that he can become immortal if he follows what Utnapishtim sayto him. Utnapishtim asked him to remain awake 6 days and 7 nights and hold a fast inorder to get sympathy from god. As time passed Gilgamesh believes that he stayed awoke and without marking a loaf of bread, he eventually became very weak and fell on the ground and slept. Utnapishtim ordered Urnashabi to leave the land forever and never come back again unless and ordered him to bring Gilgamesh back cross the sea. Utnapishtim’s wife suggested him that he can restore his youth if he get aplant deep inside the sea. Gilgamesh tie a rock in his feet and went deep inside the plant. Gilgamesh saw a cool well that night and went inside to take a bathe but there was a snake inside the water who got the smell of plant. The snake came outside and snatches the plant and the disappears from there. Utnapishtim and Gilgamesh came back from where they travelled and went back to their land Uruk. He now has transformed man and thankful to god for his life. Gilagamesh is proud to build the great walls of Uruk and will be remebered for his deeds and bringing the story of flood in his land.
Though Gilagamesh returned his land bare handed but atleast with feeling of appreciation. He now realize that no human can be immortal by body but he can become immortal with his good deeds and human kind. Thus the story end on a good note and declared Gilgamesh as the best and powerful man of the land.
Views
According to point of view, this story appears different for different people, one can take this as origin of humankind, comedy, biography, victory of good over sins etc. It is a masterpiece mixed with tragic events, emotions of people of those period, dynamic chracters etc and it is truly marvellous. Although this was a biography of Gilagamesh but not only his only good deeds and also his cruelty and all those mischievious work is narrated by the writer which is truly commendable. Also though he was brave and legend of his own time and no one dare to stand against him still people of Uruk went and complained about his sins which shows the courage of people of that time.
Another thing is about sex though it is taken as a way to bring transformation in the era but in present world we believe that due to increasing crime, this sex-business prevails but we can see in those time also these things happen. In today’s world, people say that crime is increasing thus sexual incidence increases. But through this story which is written long ago, also presented that sex works were prevalent in olden days too. Also Enkidu dragged in the face of sexuality which in those days is not considered bad because due to sex only he transformed himself to live with human rather than with wild animals. In his time prostitute woman helped him to get over his wildness so instead of depicting this as a criminal act it is described in a good note in entire story. The epic also provide reader a way to tackle any harsh circumstances like Gilgamesh doesduring his ruling period on Uruk. In those days good works and human kind was very necessary lay the foundation of civilized society and thus it is depicted in entire story that even if one is very mighty and powerful, bad thing s will always be loss with good deeds. Same happens with Gilgamesh, despite of being powerful he was punished by god.
Another view by me is the strong friendship and relationship between the two Enkidu and Gilagamesh, which is also very astonishing. Because despite being equally powerful, both never hated each other rather helped themselves which is very uncommon in present world. No body wants to see other people flourshing. Also despite of being wild beast, Enkidu brought a humanity and civilized society.
By reading the entire story, the most important theme according to me is immortality. It is something that mankind is seemingly always be curious about, but its burden is something we cannot truly comprehend that how short our lives are. A very significant thing, however, is that Gilgamesh’s realization at the end of story came true.
