After all, Gilgamesh is all about how civilization started and how it should be. It is a tale full of the culture during the Mesopotamian age, the origin of the western culture. It is clear that the story is based on the idea of divine rights and existence of gods that rule the world.
We can see that the author believes “knowledge” is what made the civilized people superior to others. This is descried by Enkidu, when he was trying to change his wild life to the one in the city. ( p.8-9…But in the mind of the wild man there was beginning a new understanding. … “Enkidu, now you are beautiful as a god.) Now, what is the “knowledge” the author is talking about. I personally think it’s talking about the wisdom, about the knowledge of the gods and how to conquer the world. (p3. …who knew the way things were before the Flood….p 4…Gilgamesh the banguard and the rear guard of the army, Shadow of Darkness over the enemy field….. p 65..Utnapishtim…you were admitted to the company of gods, who granted you eternal life…..p 66…The voice of Ea telling me the secret…..”Utnapishtim, son of Ubartutu, ….Seek life instead of riches, save yourself….safe from obliteration in the flood.”
It also seemed that the story was made to manipulate its readers or give a hint for the survival as a citizen of the civilization at that era. For example, by showing the king is the absolute power and that no one should doubt it. (p. 4 …Gilgamesh the strongest one of all, the perfect, the terror……p 14 …‘You are the strongest of all….Enlil has made you sovereign over the city.’) It also says that having a big family leads to happiness. ( p 91.. ‘How is it with the man who has one son?’ ‘I have seen the man. He sits by the wall and weeps.’…..p 92… ‘How is it with the man with seven songs?’ ‘As if he were a companion of the gods he sits upon a throne and listens to music.’) Probably the main reason to have a big family meant more possibility of survival for the culture in case of any emergencies or danger.
As a conclusion I would say that the Mesopotamian culture is the origin of the western culture. However, not all the values are still inherited today, such as the meaning of death. In Gilgamesh, death represented fear. But in most of the culture nowadays, death is heaven, the home of the Gods where one can find eternal peace. Overall, it was a new discovery for me, to actually see how the belief from the origin of civilization, Mesopotamia, is still taking its roots to our culture.
Picture from http://www.expotrade.com.ar/sites/expotrade/images/stories/prensa/arbol.jpg
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