Analysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 1284 Words

Perhaps one of the earliest pieces of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale about a Mesopotamian king named Gilgamesh who crudely dominates the natural world surrounding his gleaming society. Juxtaposing Gilgamesh’s godlike stature, Enkidu is a wild beast used to counterbalance the king in a literary sense. The hierarchical dichotomy expressed in the epic has appeared thematically within numerous mediums, including the revered artwork of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Raised in the Lower East Side (LES) of Manhattan, Basquiat created art that harshly critiqued the status of black individuals in America during the late 20th century. In particular, two of Basquiat’s paintings—Untitled and Irony of Negro Policeman—parallel the domineering†¦show more content†¦Yet, when the gods learn that the king is a crazed despot, they decide to challenge his influence. Forged using raw clay, Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s near equal. Living in the untamed woods surrou nding Uruk, Enkidu is raised by animals and causes significant issues for the king’s subjects. Created from the earth, the savage is born and shaped by natural forces—until a prostitute is sent into the wilderness to tame him. During the Mesopotamian era that Gilgamesh was written, women were considering a calming force. Lusting for sex has always been part of the human condition, and Enkidu is unable to resist assimilation. The animals who raised the beast begin to reject him, causing Enkidu to divorce nature and embark on a journey to confront the king’s rumored excess. After a brawl, Enkidu and Gilgamesh settle their differences and become companions throughout the remainder of the epic. Enkidu’s friendship does not calm Gilgamesh entirely, who is nevertheless eager to affect his will over nature. Admittedly, the connection thus far between Gilgamesh and Basquiat is seemingly ambiguous; however, a closer inspection of the LES reveals several immediate similarities. Basquiat’s neighborhood was once occupied by the native American Lenape tribe, which existed until the Dutch rapidly colonized the region. Traditionally considered an â€Å"immigrant†Show MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And Analysis1436 Words   |  6 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh –Summary and analysis Introduction The Epic of Gilgamesh is an excerpt of the original text of the Epic listed in the Sources of the Western Tradition, 5th edition, by Perry, Peden and Von Laue (2003). 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Both translations differences have their own particularRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1449 Words   |  6 Pagesbeginning in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is a bully king who frightens and annoys the people of Uruk. After the gathering with Enkidu and becoming his friend does Gilgamesh transform, into a hero worthy of history. The brotherly or â€Å"bromantic† ( considering the questionable r elationship they have) love the two have for each other helps Gilgamesh become an better leader to his people by permitting him to better understand and identify with them. Even though the myth of Gilgamesh is very ancientRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 979 Words   |  4 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh tells the legend of King Gilgamesh of Uruk and his adventures with the feral human Enkidu. At the beginning Gilgamesh shares a lot of similarities to Egyptian Pharaohs. He’s worshiped by his people in a way that’s almost pious and holds himself up with a certain arrogance. The only difference with Gilgamesh is he is one part deity and two parts human. Over the coarse of the Epic we see Gilgamesh’s demeanor change to a more humble one. This change can be attributed to the trialsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 738 Words   |  3 PagesBaily Broussard Mr. Guidry World History 4 December 2015 The Epic of Gilgamesh In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh terrorizes the people or Uruk. Because of this, they call out to the sky god Anu for help. Anu decides to turn to the goddess of creation, Aruru whom makes an equal for Gilgamesh. Aruru created Enkidu to be just like Gilgamesh and for them to contend together and leave Uruk in quiet. When Gilgamesh got up and went to the house of a bride waiting for the bridegroom, Enkidu stepped outRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1119 Words   |  5 PagesTranslation Comparison Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh has been read and reviewed/ critiqued by numerous authors. I took the articles’ ‘Angiology in the Epic of Gilgamesh’ by Th. Jacobson, and compared it to Benjamin Fosters ‘A New edition of the Epic of Gilgamesh’ These two articles both critique the writings of The Epic of Gilgamesh but in different ways. Foster’s article is a critique on a critique that has been written about The Epic of Gilgamesh, where as Jacobson critiques the epic itself, so we are