The Epic of Gilgamesh
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The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the reader as much about the society in which the work was written as it does about the life of the hero-king Gilgamesh himself. Gilgamesh's story began to take shape some four thousand years ago , and the result of succeeding additions and revisions is a portrait of a larger-than-life epic hero whose character and exploits embody the highest ideals and values of the pagan (pre-Christian) culture he represents. The Mesopotamia of more than two thousand years ago (Sumer was a region in southern Mesopotamia) consisted of harsh and dangerous societies in which bold and courageous action was required from heroes, especially kings. "Gilgamesh" lived in a time of great trouble and strife, when history was in its early stages and society was just beginning to develop. His amazing physical exploits answer the call of the time for blatant expressions of bravery and goodness in the face of the forces of darkness, evil and chaos. The stories of Beowulf and Sundiata reflect the cultural needs of two other societies and eras, as this study will demonstrate, in comparison to Gilgamesh and his place and time. Gilgamesh is shown to be a superior character, and his superiority is manifest in physical, mental and social aspects: Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, he is the hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull. and walks at the rear, trusted by his companions. Mighty net, protector of his people,
. . .
opotamia, developed into a tragedy. It taught that struggle as he would, man was helpless, his fate and death decreed by the gods. Nor was there any hope of bliss to some. Death led only to an Underworld of dusty gloom.
The story of Gilgamesh embodies, then, the culture, the
religious and mythical beliefs, the psychology, and certainly the art of the Sumerians of that era. It was a time of great uncertainty, great fear, and yet the story reflects the hope, such as it was, that the Sumerians, that any people must have, when enduring such dark and difficult times.
Another story from another culture which reflects some of the characteristics and concerns of the story of Gilgamesh is Beowulf, written in the 8th century A.D., and reflecting a Christian faith absent in Gilgamesh. Like Gilgamesh, Beowulf slays monsters and leads men, another larger-than-life hero performing magnificent feats in battling evil foes which threaten the community. The character of Beowulf lived in a much more civilized time than did Gilgamesh, but Beowulf was still a character in transition from pagan to Christian beliefs, just as was Europe. This struggle between pagan and Christian is seen in the final passage in which Beowulf is mourned by his countr
. . .
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Approximate Word count = 1682
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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