The Greatest Lesson Of The Cedar Forest - 884 Words

Death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life, which is the greatest lesson Gilgamesh learns. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever and says as much when Enkidu warns him away from their fight with Humbaba. Life is short, the two warriors tell each other on their way to the deadly confrontation in the Cedar Forest, and the only thing that lasts is fame. But when Enkidu is cursed with an inglorious, painful death, their bravado rings hollow. Shamash, the sun god, consoles Enkidu by reminding him how rich his life has been, but though Enkidu finally resigns himself to his fate, Gilgamesh is terrified by the thought of his own. Mesopotamian theology offers a vision of an afterlife, but it gives scant comfort—the dead spend their time being dead. If Gilgamesh’s quest to the Cedar Forest was in spite of death, his second quest, to Utnapishtim, is for a way to escape it. Utnapishtim’s account of the flood reveals how ludicrous such a goal is, since death is inextricably woven into the fabric of creation. But life is woven in as well, and even though humans die, humanity continues to live. The lesson that Gilgamesh brings back from his quest isn’t ultimately about death—it’s about life. Although we never learn exactly why the gods unleashed the great flood in Gilgamesh, we know why Ea rescues Utnapishtim and through him all the creatures and people of the world. As the god of wisdom and crafts, Ea is responsible for human attributes includingShow MoreRelatedEpic of Gilgamesh Theme1707 Words   |  7 Pagesplace of honor. The Inevitability of Death Death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life, which is the greatest lesson Gilgamesh learns. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever and says as much when Enkidu warns him away from their fight with Humbaba. Life is short, the two warriors tell each other on their way to the deadly confrontation in the Cedar Forest, and the only thing that lasts is fame. But when Enkidu is cursed with an inglorious, painful death, their bravadoRead MoreA Greek Heros Exile Essay1606 Words   |  7 Pagesthe option to better further their renown, thus give to the community which they receive the most respect from. Punishment may ensue also for previous actions the hero may have partaken in, forcing them into exile. With all the mental and physical lessons learned they improve the culture of the society, although they went through strenuous task to carry out this. For every moment the hero goes through exile there is a reason behind all, seemingly may be planned by the gods . The hero is not being goneRead MoreImmorality In Gilgamesh2049 Words   |  9 Pages Immorality in Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh had a journey that he had begun with Enkidu which they had to travel to Cedar Forest to defeat Humbaba. 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