Epic Of Gilgamesh Friendship Essay

1251 Words6 Pages
Throughout history we see that friendship plays a significant role within numerous works of literature. Just when we thought the “bromance” was a recent invention, all one has to do is take a look at a work of literature from any time period to know that the “bromance” is as old as recorded history. This paper is an examination of the theme of friendship and how it reveals character in the relationships between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Dante and Virgil as well as Rama and Lakshmana. At the center of The Epic of Gilgamesh, is the tale of a powerful friendship between Gilgamesh himself and his equal counterpart, Enkidu. When we first begin to read The Epic of Gilgamesh, we see that Gilgamesh’s reign as King of Uruk likens him to a dictator because the people of Uruk beg the gods to save them from his reign. What we see of Gilgamesh at that point, makes it hard to look at his persistence and not see it as an attempt to fill a void within himself. Surpassing all kings, for his stature renowned, heroic offspring of Uruk, a charging wild bull, He leads the way in the vanguard, he marches at the rear, defender of his…show more content…
He faithfully serves Rama and Sita during this time of great hardship. Lakshmana even goes as far as to cut off the nose and ears of Surpanakha's when she tries to covet Rama and insults Sita. When Sita asks Rama to fetch a magical golden deer for her, Rama trusts Lakshmana enough to ask him to stand guard over Sita, Rama’s beloved wife, as he sensed danger and evil. The relationship between Rama and Lakshmana is so strong that Rama is not even angry at Lakshmana for leaving Sita alone which leads to her capture by Ravana. Instead the two brothers, whose love for each other was forged long before any woman came in to the picture, focus their fury and rage on the finding to person who captured
Show More
Related

  • Enkidu's Eternal Life In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

    559 Words  | 3 Pages

    Watson Essay #1 The Epic of Gilgamesh Known as the notable work of Ancient Mesopotamia, The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the first tales of literature. King Gilgamesh is forever remembered for his fascinating adventures. The most interesting themes in the story are the depths of friendship and the wanting of immortality. Gilgamesh was the

    Read More

  • Epic Of Gilgamesh's Transformation

    806 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Transformation of Gilgamesh into a True Hero The Epic of Gilgamesh symbolizes a hero’s transformation from youth to maturity. Throughout the epic, we join Gilgamesh in his quest for growth as he faces many difficult tests and adventures to prove he is a worthy hero. Gilgamesh’s identity is composed of a multitude of characteristics including king, human, and god. He must learn to equally balance all of these traits in order to lead his society in a righteous manner. In Van Gennep’s model, he

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Gilgamesh

    1015 Words  | 5 Pages

    Both men were kings at the time their epics took place. They both had divine blood running through their veins; Gilgamesh because he is 2/3 god and Achilles because he is the son of Zeus. Therefore both heroes superhuman strength and are closely tied to the Gods. This also means that they are still morals and not invincible. Due

    Read More

  • Aeneas And Gilgamesh Comparison

    486 Words  | 2 Pages

    Essay Question #1 I chose to compare Gilgamesh and Aeneas, mainly because these are the two I found the most interesting. In comparing the two we can clearly devise that these are two characters that are physically gifted and supreme among their peers. They share some similarities in the respect that they both have tremendous ability and potential, but at the same time their flaws are sometimes magnified and overshadowing. Gilgamesh is a mythical character, meaning he is not all human, he is

    Read More

More about Epic Of Gilgamesh Friendship Essay

Open Document