The Epic of Gilgamesh is the ancient work of literature, the oldest in human history. It has historical importance, introduces readers to old myths and beliefs, and raises many questions that concern people. Moreover, most of these topics are also relevant in the modern world. They still often become part of the plot in literature and cinema, for example, the search for immortality, human fears, power, or friendship. Even though the protagonist of the poem – Gilgamesh – is a great ruler and demigod, he is no stranger to the desire for close relationships, and as a result, the work primarily praises friendship.
The plot of The Epic of Gilgamesh develops as the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu forms and continues. At the beginning of the story, Gilgamesh, the king of the Sumerian city of Uruk, despite achievements in the development of the town, causes the dislike of his subjects. He, the son of man and goddess, the most handsome and powerful on Earth, behaves inappropriately for the ruler making people weary, and as a result, they ask the gods for help.
In the ruler’s actions, readers can see the desire and the search for equal close relations. For example, he likely arranges athletic contests among men searching for someone who compares with him in strength, but competitions are repeated since such a winner does not appear. He is looking for physical intimacy with women of the city, trying to compensate for the lack of warmth of close communication. At the moment when Enkidu, specially created by the gods, appears in the city and fights with the king on almost equal terms, they quickly become best friends, and their adventures begin.
Before the meeting, both of these characters show their aspiration for friendly relations. Gilgamesh’s desire for friendship is expressed in his prophetic visions – before the arrival of Enkidu, he has several dreams. Helping to interpret them, his mother, the goddess, predicts: “there will come to you a strong one, / A companion who rescues a friend” (Foster 65). It is crucial that Enkidu also feels the need for a friend. The gods created him as a half-beast, and readers observe his transformation to the human through a physical relationship with a woman named Shamhat. She, trying to entice this man to Uruk, tells about Gilgamesh and then: “her words found favor / He was yearning for one to know his heart, a friend” (Foster 63). Awareness of the need for friendship comes as part of the consciousness expansion during the transition from the beast into a human. This course of events underlines the importance of friendly relations for a developed and intelligent person.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s shared adventures are designed to demonstrate the strength of trust and inspiration that friendship gives. During a trip which goal is to kill the Humbaba monster, Enkidu says, “We should rely on one another, / We will take accomplish together a deed unheard of in the land” (Foster 78). Such statements are repeated many times in the friends’ communication, emphasizing that they are more robust and bolder together than alone. Besides, they balance and complement each other – the king stopped the terror of his own city, and the former beast found his place among people.
Friendship also forces Uruk’s king to rethink important aspects of human life, creating a new plot twist. During the central conflict, Gilgamesh refuses to marry goddess Ishtar and, together with Enkidu, kills her Bull of Heaven. As a result, Enkidu’s selfish behavior after killing the monster offends the goddess, and he dies of a mysterious disease. The loss of a friend, after his mourning, leads Gilgamesh to reflect on mortality and a new search for means that will help to avoid death. During this journey, he repeatedly recalls and again grieves about the friend: “How can I be silent? How can I hold my peace? / My friend whom I loved is turned into clay, / Enkidu, my friend whom I loved, is turned into clay!” (Foster 97). Although the main character does not become immortal in the end, he overestimates his views on life and death, expressing the hope that his legacy will remain.
In conclusion, The Epic of Gilgamesh is a literary work telling about the importance of friendly relationships and celebrating them. The friendship between the ruler of the Sumerian city of Uruk, the demigod Gilgamesh, and the half-beast Enkidu created from clay is the plot’s primary driving force. At the story’s beginning, readers can observe how their need for such proximity is growing and how threatening its absence may be. The king, not finding an equal and close person, terrorizes his own people. Enkidu, in turn, becoming more human, feels the need for a friend. Their meeting leads to mutual respect and attachment, inspires them to perform feats and search for adventure. It seems that such an event as the death of Enkidu should destroy Gilgamesh, but their friendship causes changes for the better. Subsequently, the king changes his vision of such global and frightening concepts as mortality and life’s importance.
References
Foster, Benjamin (translator). “The Epic of Gilgamesh.”, pp. 58-109.