Tablets I-III

It is interesting that the Epic of Gilgamesh begins with the introduction of Gilgamesh, but focuses more on the advent of Enkidu for the first tablet and a half. But by looking Enkidu and the snippets of Gilgamesh shows the type of person Gilgamesh is by the descriptions of the “equal” Enkidu and the cries of the people of Uruk.

For a man who is two-thirds god, Gilgamesh does not act as a demigod would rule. He isn't a true god that rules over people, but acts as if he does have that power. It shows the cruelty of the gods in this story and their lack of concern to the people, who continue to faithfully obey. The character of Gilgamesh shows arrogance and stubbornness due to his position as king of Uruk. Even to defying the elders and voices of the people to go to the Forest of Cedar to fight the Humbaba. It shows his overbearing presence on the people of Uruk. He places so much on the line just for his own self. He is on bad terms with the people of Uruk, whom he is called to overlook and protect, as well as the elders who are his supporters. Even his friend, Enkidu does not want Gilgamesh to embark on his journey. The portrait that Gilgamesh paints for himself in the first three tablets show how thick-headed he is and how unwilling he is to listen and basks in his own self-glory and arrogance.

The Epic of Gilgamesh shows a parallelism with Sophocles' “Oedipus Rex”, in which an arrogant ruler who is disillusioned with power can influence the people around him. Gilgamesh's obsession with maintaining a eternal fame on this earth shows how prideful such a person can be. His pride directly affects the people around him.

The introduction of Enkidu is interesting because he is to be an equal to Gilgamesh, but Enkidu's appearance is opposite to that of Gilgamesh's. Enkidu is first seen as a primitive, uncivilized, and bestial human who is physically strong like that of Gilgamesh, but does not have the god-like appearance. If Enkidu is Gilgamesh's equal, then it shows that Gilgamesh himself is bestial and uncivilized in character. Through reading the epic, we can see that Gilgamesh's pride ties in with the uncivilized nature that comes in pride. So there is a relation between Enkidu and Gilgamesh shows that they are equals, despite the fact that Gilgamesh is a demigod and Enkidu is a primitive man. This relationship between the two companions show the equality they both share even though Gilgamesh is considered to be better than Enkidu.