Nes 2754 - Gilgamesh Paper

Samantha Lessen

NES 2754 Analysis Paper

9/19/17  

Can a person live forever? Death is an inescapable fact of human life. Erik Erikson’s stage theory of psychosocial development states that in the eighth and final stage of development people must choose between integrity and despair. This conflict forces people to question whether their lives have been meaningful or meaningless. People will come away with a sense of fulfillment from life or a sense of regret over a life misspent. Those who feel proud of their accomplishments see death as a natural, while those in despair refuse to confront the inevitable. Gilgamesh in the ancient Mesapotamian tale, Gilgamesh, tackles this conflict and eventually defeats his despair.

In the beginning of the epic, integreity vs. despair is not even on Gigamesh’s radar. Gilgamesh lives worry-free life where his ego runs wild. He is an abusive ruler who does whatever he pleases, exploiting his subjects. He rapes the wives of newly married men and carries himself as an immortal, even though he is only truly 2/3 of a god.  On the way to Ceder Forest to face Humbaba, Enkidu expresses his concerns about death. Gilgamesh derides Enkidu, saying,  “Now you are afraid of death—what has become of your bold strength? I will go in front of you, and your mouth can cry out: "Go on closer, do not be afraid! Should I fall, I will have established my fame” (2.228-237). Gilgamesh carelessly enters dangerous situations to strut his assumed “immortality”.  

When the god’s select Enkidu to die, for Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s reprehensible actions, Gilgamesh enters the conflict stage. Gilgamesh begins to see death as a reality and heeds  Enkidu’s warnings that everyone ends up in the “House of Dust”  including “the Queen of the Netherworld. Beletseri, the Scribe of the Netherworld, knelt before her” (7.183-195). Gilgamesh is so distraught by the concept, that he enters a state of grief, denial, and despair and attempts to seek immortality to cheat death.

Gilgamesh’s quest expands his consciousness. On the way to the distant realm where Utnapishtim resides, Gilgamesh encounters a tavern Keeper, Shiduri. Shiduri tells Gilgamesh to turn back that that he “will never find the eternal life he seeks”. She says, “when the gods created mankind they also created death, and they held back the eternal life for themselves alone” (Page #). She tells him to enjoy his life and to spend it in happiness instead of  despair. Gilgamesh acknowledges the wise advice, but persists in his despair state. It is only when Gilgamesh finally reaches Utnapishtim fails Utnapishtim’s two tests (staying awake for 7 days and caring for the magic plant) that Gilgamesh begins to realize that consciousness can expand only so far before it is exhausted. Gilgamesh,  experiencing the transition from despair to integrity,  heads home for Uruk.