Noor E Jannat

Big Ideas, Great Thinkers

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Summary
The Epic of Gilgamesh highlights strong friendship, Gilgamesh’s quest for
immortality, and his mourning over Enkidu, his friend’s death. The story focuses on the
relationship between two men; Gilgamesh and Enkidu, who develop a strong bond
within the course of time. Gilgamesh really loves his friend as he himself confesses after
his death, “Enkidu, my friend whom I loved, is turned into clay!” (Norton Anthology, 138).
When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh mourns badly which depicts his love for him. He feels
“heartsick for Enkidu” (Norton Anthology, 138). He calls upon Enkidu in the following
words: “now you are dead, I will let my hair grow matted,/ I will put on a lion skin and
roam the steppe!” (Norton Anthology, 134). He pays Enkidu tribute in the following
words: “He who stood by me as we ascended the mountain” and “killed lions at the
mountains passes,/ My friend whom I so loved, who went with me through every
hardship.” (Norton Anthology, 141).
Gilgamesh goes on the quest to immortality, witnessing quite a number of events
on his way. He defeats the Bull of Heaven, afterwards Enkidu dies and he mourns over
his death. Gilgamesh then passes through Sun Tunnel and crosses the River with Ur-
Shanabi. He then meets Utanapishtim, the Distant One, and after a couple of more
events, eventually goes home to Uruk. His quest for immortality results in his belief in
mortality, evident from the following saying: “After his death I could find no life,/ Back
and forth I prowled like a bandit in the steppe./ Now that I have seen your face, tavern
keeper,/ May I not see that death I constantly fear!” (Norton Anthology, 138). To
conclude, The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts strong friendship between Gilgamesh and
Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s love for Enkidu, his mourning on Enkidu’s death, and the
encounters during his quest to immortality.