Question

One idea about the epic of Gilgamesh.
   
   
   
((Gilgamesh loses divinity))

Answer 1

“Divinity of Gilgamesh.”

Ancient Greek Epic is one the earliest literature genres in the world. For this reason, they narrate stories related to gods and for this reason they are cold “Epics” because epics depict a hero of some kind. Gilgamesh, like any epic in the spirit of that time also tells a story of a heroic character. Normally, the protagonist of an epic is to attain new skills of some kind or to prevail his rivals, however Gilgamesh ultimately fails to accomplish what he so desired. Gilgamesh, like a protagonist of any epic undergoes a tremendous change, however this is a negative change. He loses divinity over the course of the story.
The very first time Gilgamesh has shown signs of divinity loss was after Enkidu’s death. Gilgamesh’s first reaction to Enkidu’s death was a bitter mourning. However, at some point Gilgamesh thinks to himself, “Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu?” (134) He is now afraid for himself; since Enkidu has died, he will also die. It is debatable whether Gilgamesh is immortal or not at this point in the story, but nonetheless he becomes afraid of death. This fear that he so bravely rejected, which now he worries about so much is the first step to losing divinity. This feeling of fear of death takes to even more humanly levels of fear. He soon says “I saw lions, I felt afraid” (134). It is clear, he is now long the fearless Gilgamesh because even the lions he is afraid of.
After experiencing fear, another change in Gilgamesh is revealed in his conversation with the tavern keeper Siduri, when she questions him. “Why are your cheeks emaciated, your face cast down, your heart wretched, your features wasted…” (137), asks the tavern keeper. The epic doesn’t tell us whether Gilgamesh is tired or not, but he does however look worn out, and Siduri has explicitly told him that. Gilgamesh who always looked beautiful, now started to look bad, which is another little loss of divinity, in addition to gaining fear.
Hitherto, Gilgamesh has gained fear and a bad look, but never has he made wrong decisions - rather, he always acted accordingly. For instance, Gilgamesh advised to send Shamhat to seduce Enkidu when Enkidu was a beast, killed Humbaba rather than having mercy on him, and refused to marry Ishtar. So many times Gilgamesh showed godly wisdom and correctness in his deeds, but now started to commit mistakes like a human. He attacks Ur-Shanabi and destroys the Stone Charms, which is the first mistake on his behalf.
Besides gaining fear, bad look, and the ability to make mistakes which all belongs to a humankind rather than the divine one, Gilgamesh also feels that he is tired, and admits that in his conversation with Utanapishtim. “I have worn myself out… my muscles ache for misery” (142), says Gilgamesh. This is the first time when Gilgamesh is tired, and this is another humanly traits that Gilgamesh is experiencing. Altogether, Gilgamesh is now a being that has the sense of fear and fatigue, he is no longer beautiful and he can commit mistakes.
After having slept for a week and gone home to clean himself, Gilgamesh comes back, and Utanapishtim rewards his efforts on the trip home by revealing the secret of eternal life. Utanapishtim says, “There is a certain plant … if you can secure this plant” (150) and he doesn’t have time to finish because Gilgamesh moves on to get the plant before Utanapishtim has a chance to add anything. This is so typical of a human to leave without listening to the rest of the instructions. Gilgamesh, in addition to all humanly characteristics that he already has gained another one. He becomes incautious and obsessed.
Gilgamesh manages to get the plant, and then commits another fatal mistake. “Gilgamesh saw a pond whose water was cool, he went down into it to bathe…a snake caught the scent of the plant… and carried it away….” (150) He made an error once again. He went to bathe into the water, and left the plant insecure and by that reason he has lost the plant. This was a knockdown for him. “His tears flowed down his face” (150), and this is a point when Gilgamesh is completely a human.
Concisely, when Gilgamesh in the past is compared to Gilgamesh in the present his loss of divinity is indisputable. Gilgamesh used to be fearless, and now he is afraid. He used to be young and beautiful, and now he is old and in a bad condition. He used to be wise, and now he commits silly mistakes. He used to be almighty, and now he is quick to wear out. He used to be courageous, and now he is crying after having committed his last and fatal mistake. He is no longer a god; he is just a man.