Gilgamesh Everlasting

Through out tablets IX, X, XI Gilgamesh is in pursuit of eternal life, but he no longer is pursuing eternal life through glory and fame, but is after immortality. The death of Enkidu is so traumatizing to Gilgamesh, apparent through the large amount of repetition, that he comes to fear death enough that he essentially abandons his kingdom to pursue Uta-Napishti so that he can obtain immortality. Gilgamesh knows he is still part man, which is clearly stated "The flesh of gods he had in [his body,]/but in [his heart] there was sorrow"(The Epic X: 7-8). This is Gilgamesh being reminded that he is 2/3 god, but still 1/3 human, which is enough to keep him within the mortal realm.

Gilgamesh has pursued ever lasting life through out the epic, but his modes of achieving his goal have progressed. He originally was using tyranny over his kingdom to create more power for himself, which would then result in his name being eternally remembered. After he fights and then befriends Enkidu, they both set out to accomplish fame and glory through defeating Humbaba, but even then when he has his goal kneeling before him, he is hesitant to strike down Humbaba. Once the gods catch on to what Gilgamesh and Enkidu are doing, they decide that Enkidu must be killed, and Gilgamesh spared because he is 2/3 god and king of Uruk. After Enkidu's death Gilgamesh fears death to the point that he sets out in search of immortality. This is when he becomes enlightened to the true facts of life when he reaches Uta-Napishti. The progression he makes through his modes of eternal fame/life depict the trials and tribulations one might go through in a coming of age experience. Just as Enkidu was 'born' into civilization by Shamhats hand, Gilgamesh is essentially born into reality through his experiences through out the epic.

The punch line of the epic, when Uta-Napishti essentially tells Gilgamesh he can't live forever and is being foolish for abandoning his blessings back in his kingdom, is similar to, but on a different scale, as the battle scenes in the epic. Similar to the battles, Gilgamesh's life lesson requires a very long drawn out series of events that results in him ultimately being shown by Uta-Napishti that his efforts are futile and foolish in a relatively short conversation. Gilgamesh is shown that to reach immortality is impossible because he is only 2/3 god, but to have an ever lasting name for himself he must rule his kingdom and be good to his people.