The Relationship Between Gilgamesh and Enkidu - Research Paper

Introduction

A relationship requires a strong element of selflessness, great effort, and worth from the two parties that are involved in a relationship. A perfect relationship requires a higher level of commitment, caring and great concern that comes from both sides of the party. The epic of Gilgamesh shows a higher level of the relationship among different characters that are taking part in the story. However, the type of relationship that exists between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is more of the normal relationship. A strong love exists between the two as shown in the essay. Both men feel the need to unite their strength and weakness and work towards achieving a common goal in life. These two individual have a strong feeling for one another based on how they perceive themselves, interacts and relates. They are growing physically and emotionally as they seek towards making a perfect team that has respect for one another based on how they conduct their activities. Gilgamesh feels depressed especially after the death of Enkidu, the manner at which he is he expresses his sorrow is a clear indication that the two were actually in love. Gilgamesh then decides to move to the city where he plans to clear his thoughts based on the emotional suffering he has been undergoing since the loss of Enkidu. Additionally, based on their reactions and especially how Gilgamesh behaves is clear I indicated that the relationship between the two was more of the soulmate.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is surrounded with sexual undertone where they were in love with one another. A strong bond unites their human friendship level. It also represents a complete and unique connection between two people who love each other. For instance, Enkidu is sent to Gilgamesh by the gods to look for a companion with the same heroism and strength. The wedding images flashback in his mind was making him Miss Enkidu even more with a gush of pain. The strong bond that existed and united the two friends makes him outbursts with painful tears. Gilgamesh develops anxiety wishing for his death to follow his lovely wife footsteps. However, according to him, Enkidu demise is a reminder of his mortality and future events in his life. Additionally, it is through the nature of their love and how they carry on with their relationship affairs that makes their relationship more than just the normal relationship but to be more strong affectionate between the two.

However, the gods create similar to him symbolizing that Enkidu is a second self for Gilgamesh. They resemble each other thus developing an affectionate relationship towards each other. The Gilgamesh's mother interprets his dream for the coming of Enkidu, as he was to save his friend and form a strong bond between them. It is evident they are more than just normal friends since Enkidu is conscious of Gilgamesh's status as a human being thereby leaving the company of animals in the wilderness for him. It describes the kind of relationship that exists between these two people as they abandon their initial practices to accommodate to each other.

Moreover, Gilgamesh had a dream about Enkidu as an ax and meteorite symbolizing his destiny. Enkidu arrival plays a significant part in determining the fate of Gilgamesh life. Besides, He also has a dream about Enkidu being his wife and not a mere friend hence showing that the two had an intimate relationship with sexual undertones. Gilgamesh says that with him he is sufficiently complete as he satisfies his soul whenever they are together. Enkidu stops Gilgamesh to attend a bridal wedding to show that he had developed feelings towards him for a long time.

Purposely, Enkidu comes to earth individually as Gilgamesh companion with a focus to stop him from a sexual encounter with Uruk women. They are like a wife and a husband as they play their roles accordingly without the interference of other people. They usually are one and same being as they mutually support each other just like loving husband and wife.

The relationship between the two is fully complete as they are friends, comrades, brothers, and lovers at the same time. They play wife and husband roles such as sexual satisfaction and supporting each other with material things. Similarly, they defend each other from continuous pressure such as the urge to have sex with other women. Nevertheless, Gilgamesh and Enkidu accompany each other to kill Humbaba giant that protects Cedar Forest. They face death and immortality together as a way of taking risks in both good and bad moments.

They support each other even emotionally as Gilgamesh fears death, but with Enkidu, he is stronger. They give each other morale during the journey in an attempt to achieve eternal fame and conquer death. Therefore, Enkidu saves the life of Gilgamesh when convincing the giant to let him live since he was in love and they were inseparable. Their relationship is tarnished when Enkidu dies because of an illness, which leaves Gilgamesh lonely and frustrated. The god's wills that Enkidu should die to ensure Gilgamesh completes his responsibilities.

The bond is inseparable, and Gilgamesh mourns the departure of his loving wife and companion. He is only left with memories to cling into when isolated and angry. They both lament and wish they died together as they blame each other. All the same, they find life meaningless, as they are not together with one another anymore. However, their life changes, as they have to adapt to living lonely without each other's company. Gilgamesh fully understands the fate of human being when Enkidu dies as his life changes for worse due to the breaking of their bond. He becomes very desperate for immortality due to the departure of Enkidu after realizing how vital he was in life. He even makes the entire city to mourn alongside him for Enkidu death. It indicates how unique and important he was in his life and that there is no other person can replace him. Gilgamesh pain and cries make him honor Enkidu with a gold monument that contains all the memorable events they held with together.

Enkidu was not a regular friend but his partner in life, and without him, he feels lonely and stranded. The wedding images flashback in his mind was making him Miss Enkidu even more with a gush of pain. The strong bond that existed and united the two friends makes him outbursts with painful tears. Gilgamesh develops anxiety wishing for his death to follow his lovely wife footsteps. However, according to him, Enkidu demise is a reminder of his mortality and future events in his life.

Gilgamesh is very desperate for eternal life after realizing that they are similar to Enkidu even their death paths. Moreover, the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is an example of human communion and friendship symbolizing that human being has a similar destiny. Enkidu is a mirror to Gilgamesh while the demise pain teaches him he would die someday eventually. Their relationship is a part of the initiation process thus significance in their lives. After the death of Enkidu, he realizes the need to start a journey to find immortality. He even desires to die just as his lover to be the same thing as ghosts. He does not see the need to live on earth without his friend company.

Gilgamesh seems to be more devoted to Enkidu given that even Enkidu was also once devoted towards him. Gilgamesh ensures that even after the death of Enkidu, he is such determined and to continue with the same spirit of love and friendship. That is the main reason why he can go the extra mile to please the Saul of his true and the person that cherished a lot in his life since during when they were childhood friends. Initially, Gilgamesh was such a cruel ruler who did not have any element of humanity to the people that he was serving. It is through the love and affection that the two have towards one another that leads to a positive relationship between them. In most of his time and experience, it is true that the love between the two has helped in the transformation of Gilgamesh in several ways to the point that he has to leave his old ways of life and traditions that seems not to be friendly anymore; Life had changed since when Gilgamesh lost his friend.

Conclusion

The relationship and the love that the two have towards one another is so strong to the point that Gilgamesh decides to leave his bad ways of life and traditions to become someone who has a lot of respect on the affairs that takes place on the daily occasions. Enkidu's love towards Gilgamesh is such motivating and powerful. Besides, the epic proves that it is true that a strong touch of love can easily tale even the wildest creature in the universe and the most uncontrollable animals. It is true the love and affection that the two have is the main reason why these two individuals have undergone progressive achievements in their lives. Being mindful for one another and concern enhance the nature of friendship and the relationship between the two. It is also important to note that it was through affecting that they have managed to be close and those that show a high level of concern and care. Many people believed that God created Enkidu so that he could be close and can offer every form of assistance to Gilgamesh and give him the company that he deserved in his life. Gilgamesh affirms how his life changed and the manner at which he values one another and he is not ready to lose Enkidu even.