Gigamesh And The Oddessy
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Gilgamesh and Odysseus are similar not only in their physical appearances but also in the way the two of them deal with life’s dilemmas. Although Gilgamesh and Odysseus possess great strength and sharp minds, their own flaws blind them similarly, which does not aid in their quest for what they desire. As part of their heroic character, the gods must guide them in order to reach their goals. In every epic from antiquity, the greatest challenge a hero must overcome is not a monster or an evil tyrant but themselves. They wish to have glory, honor, and a place in history forever. Doing something that no one else could ever do again is what a hero desires to do. From Gilgamesh to The Odyssey, epic heroes constantly have to reinvent themselves to overcome their own weaknesses and shortcomings. Each has to learn from their previous mistakes, using the gods’ help, so they can fulfill their dreams. In doing this, Odysseus and Gilgamesh will reach their goals.
The dictionary defines hero in mythology and legend as, “a man who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and born of divine or royal blood. He is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.” In addition, I believe a hero is one to be looked up to and emulated. What is interesting about epic heroes is that their great deeds and exploits all have to do with defeating themselves, so with help from the gods they can truly become heroic. They can only defeat themselves with the help of the gods.
The heroes also possess uncommon powers of the body and mind. They are described as being the utmost in clever and crafty doings but always making sure that they received credit for it. For instance, Gilgamesh dove to the bottom of the ocean to retrieve the plant that would give him immortality, and Odysseus defeated the Trojans by devising the huge wooden horse. Thinking they were better than anyone, they blinded themselves to the truth. The truth is that everyone is equal until
they can conquer themselves. They are illustrated as being physically perfect and can outfight any man alive. This makes them perfect for describing human weakness. By showing how perfect they are, it is much easier to see the faults that will bring them down and defeat their dreams.
Heroes have many flaws that must be dealt with in order for them to learn and to realize the big picture. A common weakness found throughout is pride or hubris. Odysseus had his fate sealed for another ten years because he stayed at Troy to celebrate the Greek victory in the Trojan War, and when he revealed his name to the Cyclops so that it may know who out-smarted and blinded it. Gilgamesh’s fate was decided by the way he treated his people, putting unendurable hardships upon them and the deforestation of the Land of the Living, which was protected by the Humbaba.
Gilgamesh was born into partial godhood, his mother Ninsum being divine. Being two-thirds god only made him aspire to become immortal, thus achieving godhood. Odysseus was born into the royal family on the Grecian island kingdom of Ithaca. Becoming king, his ambition to become great fueled his desire to conquer Troy later on. Subsequently, the birthrights of both helped to make them the heroes that they turned out to be.
Gilgamesh and Odysseus are not completely heroic until they get help from the gods. Gilgamesh’s mother is a goddess that protects him and counsels him on his destiny. She is the one that told Enkidu to watch over him and keep him safe, and she also helped him on his quest for immortality. Without Athena, Odysseus would never have made it back to Ithaca, her wisdom and power gave him the strength and courage to go on. His feet never would have touch land if a sea nymph hadn’t given him her veil. The island of Calypso would have been his home forever had Zeus not sent Hermes, the messenger god, to free him.
The gods show them in the similar ways as well. Gilgamesh is
sent a friend, Enkidu, who is so much like Gilgamesh himself; he sees it as a godsend. In reality, the gods are teaching how to be more heroic him by sending a mirror image of him so that he may better understand others pain and joy. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh feels the full range of grief, and he realizes his own fate and attempts to divert it by becoming immortal. When he goes to see Utnipishtnum the Faraway to learn the secret of immortality, Gilgamesh is seen for what he truly is, a selfish character destined to be in the worst part of the afterlife. When Gilgamesh is told to go home and be with his wives and children, he scoffs at the thought of such a boring life and begs for the secret of ever-lasting life. Here again, the gods give Gilgamesh a way to regain youth with a plant but take it away to show him that immortality is not what is important. What are important are love, family, and a duty to protect others.
Odysseus is rewarded after ten years of war with the Trojans with all the riches and glory one man can have. Still it is not enough for Odysseus, and he in not ready to go home and live the quiet, peaceful