Gilgamesh Is A Hero - 1209 Words

Since long ago, people carried an image of what it means to be a hero. It is evident in some great books one might even say. As in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Antigone, and The Iliad, heroism is displayed and exalted, but what does being a hero mean? Overarchingly, in regards to these works, the heroes earn their titles as heroes by notably doing what is right when the time is right, with humane purpose, and an everlasting message. However, Gilgamesh, Antigone, and Akhilleus, being different in their purposes, everlasting messages, type of heroism as whole, can not compare in regards to heroic status. Gilgamesh is a hero. He notably did good, had a humane purpose to do good, which in the end displayed an everlasting message. In The Epic of†¦show more content†¦At the end of the epic, after his epiphany, Gilgamesh returns to his kingdom, able to rule as a true leader, respecting his people, and his people respecting him. Gilgamesh displays this growth at the end of the Epic as he admires his city, â€Å"Survey its foundations, examine the brickwork!†, â€Å"Did the Seven Sages not lay its foundations?† (Gilgamesh 11.324,236) This was his act of of good. Realising what it takes to rule his kingdom, not like a tyrant, was what his message was. What truly made Gilgamesh a hero was his transformation from being a tyrant to a good king. Gilgamesh lived on through the foundations of his Kingdom, in a way, making him mortal. As people continue to study the epic, one might even suggest Gilgamesh obtained immortality as being remembered a hero. Antigone too was a hero, however, in a different way. While displayed a message, she did good, and had purpose, it was all slightly different than Gilgamesh. Antigone stood against the King, Creon, her uncle, who ruled tyrannically. With this, her message shared some parallel to Gilgamesh, suggesting that if a Tyrant is in power, change is needed. She criticized her uncle for not being a king of the people, as he made it illegal to bury one of her brothers. Despite Creon being king, she expressed, â€Å"But he’s no right to keep me from what’s mine† (Antigone line 60). Antigone actively expresses that being a king does not give one absolute right over every person. Through this, she is able to send the aShow MoreRelatedGilgamesh As A Hero1201 Words   |  5 Pageslong ago, people carried an image of what it means to be a hero. It is evident in some great books one might even say. As in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Antigone, and The Iliad, heroism is displayed and exal ted, but what does being a hero mean? Overarchingly, in regards to these works, the heroes earn their titles as heroes by notably doing what is right when the time is right, with humane purpose, and an everlasting message. However, Gilgamesh, Antigone, and Akhilleus, being different in their purposesRead MoreGilgamesh : A Hero Or Hero?1623 Words   |  7 Pages What is a hero? Is it a person who is admired and seen as one with courage, nobility, and heroic achievements, humble , and helpful and always looking for other’s favors? Or is it someone who is forcing his will through tyranny to be praised as a hero? Of course it’s the first option. Gilgamesh is supposed to be a story of a hero with no comparison of his strength, power and nobility. But the truth about Gilgamesh is that all he is looking for is his fame and fortune. The king’s tyrannyRead MoreGilgamesh a Hero1746 Words   |  7 PagesThe story of Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk who is two thirds god and one third human, is a interesting and intriguing piece of literature. The story tells of Gilgameshs strength, bravery, intelligence, looks, and loyalty making him a true model hero. It says that Gilgamesh was (pg.13), given a perfect body and endowed with beauty and courage and his beauty surpassed all others. Throughout the story he is constantly going into battle and going on long adventures to find answers that will betterRead MoreThe Hero Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh911 Words   |  4 Pagesstereotypical, sympathetic hero; the Batmans and Supermans who lose their parents in tragic circumstances and devote their lives to vanquishing evil. That however, is not the way heroes have always been portrayed. When we look at The Epic of Gilgamesh we see the archetype of every hero since, however, we are not overcome with a desire to see Gilgamesh succeed. On the hand, if we fast forward two thousand years and look at a hero from Africa named Sundiata who is very similar to Gilga mesh in many aspects, weRead MoreThe Hero Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh1759 Words   |  8 Pages In the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh†, it is easy to conclude that Gilgamesh, the protagonist of the story, is the hero. In â€Å"Like Mayflies in a Stream†, Gilgamesh is merely a scary person who appears in the story here or there rather than being the protagonist. Instead, Shamhat is the main person that the story focuses on, but the book is imprecise on one hero of the entire story. There are numerous characters that could reflect hero aspects such as going on a quest, having another to help guide them, or facingRead MoreGilgamesh: A Mythical Hero Essay840 Words   |  4 Pagesconfusions and battles. Within these myths lies a hero. From myth to myth and story to story, heroes experience what may be called a struggle or a journey, which lays down their plot line. Bearing tremendous strength, talent, and significant admiration, a hero holds what is precious to their audience, hero ism. Over time however, no matter the hero, the hero’s role remains indistinguishable and identical to the position of every other hero. Gilgamesh the king is a myth beholding various heroic traitsRead MoreEpic Of Gilgamesh : The Epic Hero1641 Words   |  7 PagesGilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian hero, featured in the famous tale of â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh†, who embarks on a perilous quest for immortality. This idea, â€Å"†¦touches on the most fundamental questions of what it actually means to be human†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Homer 33), and gives us light into the minds of the people during the era. Gilgamesh’s tale gives us a glimpse at how the people of that day viewed a â€Å"hero†, and allows us to reflect upon what we consider a â€Å"hero† today. Using the Epic Hero Cycle, I will analyzeRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh : The Jeopardy Of A Hero1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe Jeopardy of a Hero The Epic of Gilgamesh was an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia. The Epic of Gilgamesh, is often known as the earliest surviving great work of literature, by an unknown author but translated by N.K. Sanders. The epic poem, tells a creative story about a bold hero named Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story that takes place in Summer of Uruk, in the Middle East around 2700 B.C. Gilgamesh is half man, half god. Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s friend is a man that was created fromRead MoreEpic of Gilgamesh: a Hero Essay1615 Words   |  7 PagesStill, there is a great difficulty that lies in defining what a hero truly is. Strength alone does not make a hero; nor does intelligence. Moreover, the Epic of Gilgamesh truly defines the definition of a hero. Gilgamesh is portrayed as a true hero through his skill, intelligence, willingness to die, reverence, and his respect for death. Throughout the entire epic, Gilgamesh demonstrates outrageous skill as a warrior and leader. â€Å"Gilgamesh is strong to perfection.† â€Å"He is an awesome beast with unmatchedRead MoreGilgamesh Heros Journey Analysis1052 Words   |  5 Pages In The Epic of Gilgamesh we see an epic hero, Gilgamesh, rule over the town of Urik. He is a harsh ruler who makes his power known to his people. Shortly after this, he meets his equal in strength, Enkidu, who is a man from nature. Together these two conquer many lands until the gods decide that they are two powerful together, and they kill Enkidu. This loss to Gilgamesh forces him to go out wandering the land looking for answers to immorality. Everything that Gilgamesh does follows the character