Enkidu's Change In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

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Gilgamesh is the Priest-King of the city of Uruk. In tablet one, the Epic of Gilgamesh illustrates that he is suppose to be the peoples’ Shepherd; a man who tends, feeds, and guards the people of Uruk. Although Gilgamesh was meant to be the peoples’ Shepherd, he does not recognize the people as his equals. King Gilgamesh does as he pleases, rejecting the people in every possible way. Before his encounter with, Enkidu, Gilgamesh was a tyrannical king who worked his people to death and took anything he pleased from them. Gilgamesh killed the young men of Uruk at will and used the women as he pleased. Gilgamesh would take wives on their wedding night and did as he desired. King Gilgamesh was a being of which there was no equal. His boastful attitude…show more content…
In Gilgamesh, the relationship between two friends, Gilgamesh and Endiku, shows love shared in a friendship rather than between a man and a woman. Gilgamesh is a story of an honorable person that loves and hates, loses and gains. The Epic shows that no one is inevitable to change in the world. Before Enkidu, Gilgamesh was a man of significant power. Gilgamesh was honored and feared by the people of Uruk. The first sincere change in Gilgamesh arises when Enkidu shows up in Gilgamesh’s’ life. In Gilgamesh’s opinion, he had finally met a being that matched him, his companion for life. In the process of sealing their friendship, Gilgamesh began to set aside his excessive pride, power, and selfishness in order to open a place in his heart for his beloved brother, Enkidu. When the pair kills the bull of heaven, the Gods sentence death upon Enkidu. Enkidu’s death left Gilgamesh frightened and confused which lead to grieving for seven days and night. The grief in his heart surpassed the pride he had previously displayed and made him scared of his own death. Losing a loved one showed a compassionate side of Gilgamesh we had never seen before. The love between Gilgamesh and Enkidu was so strong that it made Gilgamesh realize he needs to be a better person. Love in the Epic of Gilgamesh shows how love changes someone drastically. Best friends have a scared bond that is respected and it creates change in a positive way throughout

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