46-47) Also, for Enkidu himself Gilgamesh is a more than a friend since he seeks for a friend precisely when he “becomes aware of himself”, that is when he becomes conscious of his status as a human being and leaves the wilderness and the company of the animals: “Becoming aware of himself, he sought a friend.”(I. This fact already hints that that Enkidu is more like a second self for Gilgamesh rather than a mere companion, as the gods have created someone who is as similar as possible to him: “How the youth resembles Gilgamesh–/tall in stature, towering up to the battlements over the wall…”(II. First of all, Enkidu was sent to Gilgamesh by the gods so as he might have a companion, an equal in strength and heroism. There are many important indications of the other meaning of their relationship. However, it is obvious that their relation means more than just human friendship and love.
When Gilgamesh’s mother interprets his dreams that foresee the coming of Enkidu, the two already appear to be united by a strong bond that seems to be a peak of human friendship: “There will come to you a mighty man, a comrade who saves his friend-“(I.249) All the other events in the story point to the unusual powerful relationship between the two. The two friends love each other with a deep brotherly love, which often has sexual undertones as well. Thus, in the first place, the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu represents a very special and complete connection between two people. Enkidu is thus more than a brother and a friend for Gilgamesh he is an actual mirror for him, a second self and Gilgamesh sees his own fate as a human being in him. The sudden preoccupation that Gilgamesh has for his own fate and for the fate of mankind in general when he sees the death of his best friend means that, for him, the relationship with Enkidu is actually a part of his initiation.
When Enkidu dies as the gods will it, Gilgamesh, who at first seems to accept his friend’s death as part of the normal course of mankind, becomes very dejected and starts on a journey to find immortality. First of all, their friendship seems to be an epitome for human relationships and brotherhood: Gilgamesh and Enkidu are at the same time friends, brothers, comrades in their heroic feats, and almost lovers in the feelings they have for each other. In the context of the symbolic meanings of the text, the relationship between the two friends, Gilgamesh and Enkidu is very important. There are two very important myths incorporated in the epic: one is the quest for immortality and story of the flood, related to Gilgamesh by its very survivor, Utanapishtim.
Its main theme is the condition of man on earth as a mortal being. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the most remarkable writings of the Babylonian ancient literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu Analysis
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