This book Review will be broken down into two separate sections. The first section will provide a summary of The Epic of Gilgamesh, while the second section of this paper will address the importance of the book, relevant to the civilization it was believed to be written from.
Summary
The story opens up with a description of Gilgamesh; his strengths and actions are explained to be arrogant but no man can match him. The people of Uruk lament to the Gods, and in response, the gods create his equal – Enkidu.
When Enkidu was first introduced to the world, he was raised by wild animals and ran with them. Enkidu is then tricked by the community into sleeping with a Harlot. This action would force Enkidu to be rejected by the Wild animals and thus, Enkidu had to join the rest of the people in civilization.
Upon Enkidu’s arrival in Uruk, he has relayed a tradition of the bridal ceremony which he and the people did not agree with. Enkidu thought he would challenge Gilgamesh, but Gilgamesh won. The two become more than friends, they become brothers essentially.
In the next chapter, the two become restless in their kingdom so they decide to venture into the forest and conquer the land of Humbaba, the protector of the forest. They make offerings to the Gods before their journey and then set out as a duo. They are haunted by their dreams along the journey but eventually confront Humbaba and defeat him together.
The next section begins with Gilgamesh rejecting the God Ishtar. Ishtar is enraged and asks the Gods to release the bull of Heaven upon Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The brothers defeat the bull and cut its heart out to offer to the God Shamash. Enkidu is then angry with the Gods but is then taught to respect and appreciate all he has been offered despite his current condition of being sick. Enkidu lay sick in his bed until he passed. Gilgamesh wept and wept; he had his people build a statue in honor of his lost friend and brother.
In response to his friend’s death, Gilgamesh goes on a journey to find everlasting life. He travels a great distance in a very short amount of time and encounters gods or protectors of areas such as the sea. He traverses long periods of darkness and is escorted by a Urshanabi across the ocean. Gilgamesh is finally informed of a plant that lives under the ocean.
Gilgamesh attains this plant and is on his journey back when he Is attacked by a sea monster that engulfs this plant in one gulp. Gilgamesh laments over his loss but then learns about permanence from Utnapishtim; “there is no permanence. Do we not build a house to stand forever” (106).
In between Gilgamesh’s search for eternal life, the story of the flood is relayed. The story is told in first person by a man who has been sent a message by one of the Gods to build a boat out of his house due to a flood.
The flood is in response to God’s disappointment in humanity. The narrator and his wife survive the flood and are appointed by the Gods to live between the rivers (Mesopotamia).
In the last chapter, Gilgamesh dies. A poem is written for him and the people of Uruk lament over his death. He built a tomb and the people make offerings to the Gods.
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Importance of Literature to It’s Society
To begin with, the flood story interwoven in this narrative is important to Mesopotamia and many other religions today because of the influence attributed to the Gods. This story is still pervasive in many religions except it has been adapted to each culture and spiritual belief.
The search for eternal life is important to this early civilization because it helped explain why people pass away. These early people needed a way to cope with the loss of family and loved ones; I believe this story helped in this matter.
Another important element to note is the transition of Enkidu to become a member of society. At first, he ran with the wild animals up until he lay with a harlot. Enkidu once indulged in human traits, he had to adjust to the ways of man. Being that Mesopotamia was one of the first civilizations, the story of Enkidu serves as a metaphor for how their civilization may have grown into what it became.
These people also believed in Gods’ and feared and respected them. They used the Gods to tell stories or control the actions of civility in society. Power was thus appointed by the Gods. Sexual acts and the physical body is not spoken of in shame. The physical is embraced as long as there are offerings or respects to the Gods.
The death of Gilgamesh also shows that the people might also believe in the afterlife. The people have built him a tomb and asked the Gods to care for him in his next adventure.
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