Essay on The Epic of Gilgamesh on Immortality and Its...

As long as humans have lived and died, we have strived to know the meaning of life. We assume that there is a meaning or importance to life, and in doing so try to provide some permanence to our existence so that a greater machine might continue to function. It is only natural, then, for us to be interested in the concept of immortality. If there is purpose to an ending life, a life that does not end must be supremely important. This idea is exemplified throughout time in stories both historical and fictional. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one such story. Gilgamesh deals with immortality on nearly every level, and at the same time points back to mortality, trying to extract a reason for living and dying. Ostensively, The Epic of Gilgamesh†¦show more content†¦When the Bull of Heaven is sent to Uruk from the gods, Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay it quickly by stabbing a sword into the Bulls neck (Gilgamesh 82). If the Bull of Heaven is a god, then clearly the gods can be killed. The Bul l of Heaven also seems to be a guardian of sorts for the gods, which implies the gods need protection. Later the story describes a flood-weapon that gods are actually fearful of (Gilgamesh 113), perhaps because it could bring about their death. This all makes an interesting distinction between immortality and invincibility Ââ€" although life might continue forever if left alone, it is not necessarily incapable of being stopped. And the spiritual life seems to continue for humans when the physical life ends. Enkidu talks about being taken to a horrible afterlife: He seized me, drove me down toÂ… the house where those who stay are deprived of light, where dust is their food, and clay their bread. (Gilgamesh 89). Thus, while humans might be able to obtain spiritual immortality, it will only be a state of suffering, which reflects back to the negativity of seeking immortality in life. Gilgamesh also deals with perpetual life by symbolically demonstrating death and rebirth. Enkidu, a fter having intercourse with the prostitute Shamhat, is rejected by the animal kingdom that was his home (Gilgamesh 55-56). At this moment, Enkidus life as an animal ends, but his life continues as a human. Similarly, the snake that steals Gilgameshs plant of