What is the point of this episode? What does Utnapishtim teach Gilgamesh about immortality? Would anyone really want this kind of immortality?
Although Gilgamesh wants to live forever, he cannot even stay awake for seven days, as Utnapishtim proves by having his wife bake seven loaves of bread while Gilgamesh sleeps. Noah gained dominion and Utnapishtim got eternal life. In Genesis, the flood lasted for forty days, and in the story only six. Among the differences in the shape of the arks, a rectangular ark was present in the Biblical story while in the Epic of Gilgamesh was a square one. The gods said they would destroy humans again. After the flood, the arks landed on mountains. The disasters accrued in ancient times and were extremely severe. In both birds were set free to check whether the flood is over, and there is an opportunity to land. Both include the information as the gods wanted to kill people as they were too sinful, but chose a man to save creatures from all species from the flood. What are the similarities and differences between the two accounts of the flood as presented in the Book of Genesis and Gilgamesh? Enkidu does everything for his friend, which appeals to me more: “Are you ready to leave? Or are you still afraid to die a hero’s death? …Enkidu listened gravely… At last, he nodded. I will make a lasting name for myself” (Mitchell 137). The whole world will know how mighty I am.
I believe Enkidu to be more heroic, as Gilgamesh’s actions are more selfish: “I will kill Humbaba.
Here, heroes are people who can do something extraordinary and almost impossible. To my mind “heroic” deals with some deeds made in honor of goodness. Compare the characters of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. His actions were considered to be interference with the gods’ will: “Enkidu’s fate is decided when he and Gilgamesh defeat and kill the monster Humbaba, and then kill the miraculous Bull of Heaven” (Mason 121). The gods decided to kill Enkidu as they believed him to have no right to fight for the Bull of Heaven and kill Humbaba. Learn More Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, yet the gods decide that Enkidu is the one who must die.
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