The Successful Hero On A Path To

Failure Essay, Research Paper

The Successful Hero on a Path to Failure

What is a hero. Is a hero is a great individual with powers or qualities that

separate him from the rest of the society or world for that matter. In a sense, perhaps, I

think a hero can be much more than just having these particular qualities. In my opinion, a

hero is someone that also commands great respect. There must also have been a great

event or deed for someone to be deemed a hero.

In the heroic tale of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh himself is a hero. He has the qualities

required for being a hero, but he is lacking. He fails to exhibit self restraint and wise

decision making. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a hero must be perfect in order to be

one. A hero is supposed to make mistakes and have downfalls. Heroism is a quality that

is present in every human being. It is a part of humanity. It is displayed more

prominently in a few such as Gilgamesh. A hero still remains human though and can never

be ideal.

Society in Gilgamesh’s culture viewed their king as the ultimate warrior and

leader. The city was the most important part of life in the times of Gilgamesh. A ziggurat

was present in the city representing religious life. The gods resided in the temples of the

city. Society relied upon the presence of gods to determine how well the city would last

and prosper. The city was a place of patriotism and nationalism. Elaborate rituals were

commonplace. Unlike that of the culture described in the Bible, sexuality is part of the

worship of gods. Gilgamesh is a key factor in this way of life for the city of Uruk. He is

the priest king. His role in the city is important because he is depended upon by all of the

residents of his city. They look to him for strength, spirit, and guidance. Gilgamesh is

ideal to the people because he serves the purposes a priest king is expected to do in order

to keep society thriving. He wins wars and has little fear. It is similar to politics. If the

economy is thriving, then the people say the president is doing a good job. If the country

is in a state of depression, the president will most likely not win the reelection. The people

of this city didn’t care much that he had ill qualities. It was more important to see the

ones that kept the city moving and expanding.

From the point of view of certain gods, however, Gilgamesh made too many

mistakes. Gilgamesh himself was part god, but he still was part human and nothing could

change that about Gilgamesh. The story of Gilgamesh is an epic tale that revolves around

the life of a hero. This is the first issue. Gilgamesh doesn’t think of himself as a mortal

man. He begins to question death in Tablet IX after the death of his companion Enkidu.

Gilgamesh wandered in the wilderness grieving over the death of Enkidu and

weeping saying: “Enkidu has died. Must I die too. Must Gilgamesh be like that.”

Gilgamesh felt the fear of it in his belly. He said to himself that he would seek the

son of Ubartutu, Utnapishtim, he, the only one of men by means of whom he might

find out how death could be avoided. He said to himself that he would hasten to

him, the dangers of the journey notwithstanding.

He is forced to face his own mortality. It seems in the passage that Gilgamesh never even

considered death before this instance. He assumed that death only can to other people.

Gilgamesh is in a state of denial at first, by the death of Enkidu and second, by the

realization that his death may also soon come.

Gilgamesh isn’t a hero at the beginning of this tale. Gilgamesh develops into a

hero. He has great qualities that are uncommon in ordinary men. He is a skilled fighter,

passionate, bold, aggressive, and has incredible strength. What he lacks in may be the

greatest qualities that a hero can possess. Gilgamesh is unwise in decisions and has a ill

conception of justice. Gilgamesh is tightly linked with the gods, perhaps the only reason

that Gilgamesh is so successful in his ability. Ishtar makes it difficult for him when he

refuses to have relations with her. Shamash, the sun god, uses Gilgamesh to carry out

deeds that may be forbidden by the other gods. The other gods are extremely upset with

Gilgamesh and Enkidu when Huwawa is killed. As a result, Enkidu is killed. This is the

turning point for Gilgamesh in a sense. His reaction is unusual for Gilgamesh because he

isn’t a thinker. He is a fighter. Now, his only objective is to discover immortality. He

becomes obsessed with life, fearing death.

When Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim, he is seeking only the way to be

immortal. He cares nothing of the hero that he once was. Gilgamesh mourns for the loss

of Enkidu. His perspective changes. He truly discovers that he is mortal after he loses the

plant to the serpent. All his strength and skill could not have gained immortality even if he

hadn’t lost the plant to the serpent. Gilgamesh’s discove

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать