Gilgamesh

Throughout life, we are faced with many journeys and obstacles. Some of these journeys may be tough, sometimes nearly impossible to accomplish, and some may be easy and simple. Whatever the outcome, whether it be success or failure, is not as important as what we learn from the experience. These experiences are what shape our character. Such is true in many pieces of literature, including the oldest known epic, Gilgamesh. In this ancient Babylonian text, the main character Gilgamesh embarks on a journey of momentous value, one in which all people reflect on at some point in their lives. It is the search for immortality, an interest which was sparked in Gilgamesh after the death of his dear friend Enkidu. After Enkidu died from wounds sustained in a battle, Gilgamesh became heartbroken and dejected from the loss of his friend. He became determined to find the key to immortality and bring Enkidu back to life. This later becomes a journey to find immortality for himself, which he never accomplishes. However, as mentioned earlier, it is not a question of whether or not the individual succeeded, but whether or not the individual learned from the experience. In the epic Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh does not succeed in his quest for immortality, yet he is successful in obtaining wisdom in that he realizes that happiness is nothing without someone to share it with, he discovers that death is inevitable, and he learns that only emotions can be truly immortal.

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