Essay on Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus

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Essay on Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus

Homer’s Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh are famous mythological ventures that have been attributed to their heroic characters. Comparing these two mythological heroes through literature can assist us on hold close to how unique are their characteristics and heroic ideals. This Comparison of the Odyssey and Gilgamesh has helped in discovering the similarities and differences they have and share. This epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey is held in a manner of appreciation through literature as they prove an ancient characterization of the heroes and their companions. This has delivered imagery to our minds when we read them and in accordance with their relation with measurement and the time written. These two epics distinguish an entire lot in their writing styles, characterization detail, and also important ideas. They each talk about the story of a misplaced man discovering his way. This paper is aimed at discussing the journeys undertaken with the aid of the vital characters; in unique one need to focal point on the motives of the protagonists and how each Gilgamesh and Odysseus have been converted in the path of their adventures. This discussion can throw mild on the values and beliefs of humans who need to stay many centuries ago.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey are two tales of regular guys from historical Mesopotamia and historic Greece, who had been given brilliant strengths. However, as they go with the aid of lifestyles they make mistakes actually like regular men. Gilgamesh, the hero from the epic Gilgamesh was once the king of Uruk in Babylonia. He was as soon as a king who had many faults. The human beings said he was harsh, and that he slept with brides on their wedding ceremony night until now than their husbands. He used to be as soon as very confident, and at the beginning of the story, had little compassion for his people, as he would rule over them but would now not guard them. He used to be as soon as very strong and felt most useful over them. (Academy of Ancient Texts, 2001). Odysseus, the hero from the epic Odysseus is the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca, a universal Greek leader of the Trojan War. He is also confident. As in distinction to Gilgamesh, Odysseus used to be granted intellectual strengths, was as soon clever, and had an ardor to accumulate expertise and experience. He used to be once totally human and ethical and did now not have divine ancestry. He confronted many challenges whilst returning home when he encountered a number of monsters on the other hand he remained focused. He used to be loyal and human beings cherished and revered him. (Butler, 2009).

Because of their heroism and capacity to accomplish wonderful things, at the same time as dealing with deities and mortal beings alike, the epics of Gilgamesh and Odysseus depict the story of two heroic Odysseus’ from awesome ancient intervals who had been each in search of the skill of life. Gilgamesh is the semi-mythic king of Uruk from early Mesopotamia, whereas the epic of Odyssey is developed in early Greece. However, with all the similarities and conventions of epic poetry, there are additionally many differences, such as personality traits and the nature of obstacles confronted by the heroes as well.

Gilgamesh used to be very famous and crucial to the historians of Mesopotamian culture. Because of his heroism, he used to be accorded absolutely divine recognition as a god. Odysseus used to be equally a very popular hero and was most commonly described in Greek mythology as godlike, almost like the god Zeus. While Gilgamesh and Odysseus went through very challenging hardships during their journeys, everything that happened to Gilgamesh was once due to his fault, while Odysseus’ struggles were viewed to be the result of horrible luck.

Certain features deliver Gilgamesh and Odysseus to being very similar, they each have very godlike sides to aid them to overcome their supernatural enemies. While every possessed such strength, they made selections based absolutely on a lot of power at the same time at different times they made careless ones, simply like any man. They additionally appear to research matters about themselves via prerequisites and assist train lessons about existence with the troubles they get themselves into. In both tales ladies have been additionally the cause of the problems, Gilgamesh and Enkidu having to fight the Bull of Heaven despatched down via a goddess and Odysseus being challenged through the skill of the goddesses. The two recollections appear to mirror each different when it comes to the existence of guidelines that we can observe for the challenges we face in life. As said in the epic of Gilgamesh, ‘As for you Gilgamesh, fill your bell with things: day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice. Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water, cherish the little child that holds your hand, and make your wife completely cozy in your embrace; for this too.’

First, it is essential to speak about the motives that brought about the epic heroes to leave their homeland. For instance, one can point out that Odysseus used to be once forced to go to the Trojan War. At the very beginning, he preferred to stay at Ithaca, however, he was once as soon compelled to be phase of the army of Agamemnon and Menelaus. In contrast, Gilgamesh was as soon inclined to undertake this journey. Moreover, he is pushed through the way by numerous motives. For instance, he is inclined to go away with a semi-god known as Humbaba due to the fact this victory can reap his reputation and focus on special people. On the whole, this example can throw moderate on the variations between the lifestyle of Ancient Greece and Sumer. The behavior of Odysseus shows that Greeks emphasized devotion to domestic America or family. In turn, the subculture of Sumer related significance to electricity and glory. Additionally, it is quintessential to discuss how the day trip affected each Odysseus and Gilgamesh. In the route of his travels, Odysseus encountered many difficulties and in some cases, he had to use cunning, brutal force, and every so often even cruelty to continue to exist and return to Ithaca. Furthermore, he can also want to continue to be with Calypso. Nevertheless, he stays loyal to his spouse Penelope and his homeland. In turn, Gilgamesh will become modified in the path of his adventures. It is difficult for him to accept the notion that he is mortal. In turn, Odysseus does not even strive to accumulate the repute of a deity. Again, the experiences of the vital characters can replicate very crucial editions between the cultures of Greece and Sumer. Greeks identified the boundaries of a human being. Yet, one can say the same element about the Sumerian way of life in which human beings might also prefer to claim the fame of a deity.

Odysseus and Gilgamesh are similar in how they each strive for recognition on their risky missions, then again what motivates them and helps them enhance as heroes at the top of the story are what matters and what differs. When Odysseus enters the land of the Cyclops, he ought to discover a way to escape. During this 2nd of pressure, Odysseus is questioning saving no longer only himself but additionally his crew with the regular of getting domestic to see his family. Odysseus’s selflessness and capacity are on display while displaying his real intentions of trying to save his people. However, Gilgamesh the prideful king seeks to kill Humbaba solely to show the human beings of Uruk that he, a mere mortal, killed a god. Gilgamesh says, ‘I, Gilgamesh, would see! The one whose title resounds throughout the complete world, I will hunt him down in the forest of cedars. I will make the land hear’ (The Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet 2, 206-209) Gilgamesh is inclined to kill to show a point. In the beginning, Gilgamesh’s motives at the return of most of his selections are definitely to are seeking attention, then again when his high-quality friend, Enkidu, dies a surprising eventful trade hits Gilgamesh, and his motivations change. Gilgamesh comes to receive the divine order of things and is higher blissful in his feature as king. What initiates this trade is eventually his love for Enkidu and the flood of Utanapishtim, which is when Gilgamesh realizes that it is higher to keep a lifestyle than to damage it. Thomas VanNortwick explains that ‘While it is puzzled whether or not or no longer that Odysseus encounters a lot of non-public development’ (Nortwick, 126) as Gilgamesh, some can see how he learns to adapt to the trials destiny has in store for him. Odysseus finds methods of use lots less and a great deal much less violence in his adventures, on the other hand, later Odysseus is considered a static character.

Odysseus and Gilgamesh are each character in epics who come to be heroes with the aid of the challenges they face on their respective journeys. During each character’s journey, he learns the traits that a genuine chief and hero have to possess. They each begin as fallacious guys and leaders ‘and the checks they face on their journeys teach them to overcome their flaws and cease up greater leaders as excellent heroes. An authentic chief has to be comfortable in his solitude and capable to act alone. In every epic, both characters are in stipulations of the place they are both isolated and experience overwhelmingly loneliness. Gilgamesh encounters loneliness increased than once at some point in the epic. In the beginning, he is so lonely that he acts like a tyrant, ignores his duties as a king, and pursues young adults and maidens all via his kingdom in a quest for companionship. Later on, Gilgamesh will become lonely once more after the demise of Enkidu which sets him off into deep melancholy and he feels as though he has no reason for residing any longer. Odysseus, on the exceptional hand, is caught on an island with Calypso for seven years with almost no hope of returning home. He longs to return domestic to his spouse and son, however, he has no ship and no crew to assist him to get there.

The customary theme present is heroism in each Epic tale. They are men with magnificent electricity and supremacy. The heroes provide us sheer power in wondering and on the different hand, perception of heroic bodily energy in particular. Both heroes face the loss of lifestyles and trip through their paths bravely and honorably with Odysseus`s family dealing with hardships due to his remote experience in pursuit of knowledge and wealth. Both the characters harm themselves into heroes and tyrants. Gilgamesh succeeds with his lesson about the truth of man being mortal soon. He additionally understood that not taking note of what one`s achievements are, even if they are godlike as a long way as Gilgamesh is concerned, one has to cherish the smaller things. It took Gilgamesh a single day whilst Odysseus`s journey multiplied to twenty years to apprehend that everybody has to find out the of life. Gilgamesh and Odysseus had been designed to confront the outer limits of human existence and then to deliver back knowledge extracted from this intense perspective (Launderville). Gilgamesh shows no mercy to the beast and slays it taking an apt suggestion from Enkidu, who says: Kill the beast now Gilgamesh. Show no weak or silly mercy in the course of so sly a foe. Taking the advice, Gilgamesh cuts the beast. Odysseus, on the different hand, even though Athena`s divine assistance, alongside Telemachus, and a couple of herdsmen manages to kill all of the suitors. The katabasis is normally referred to amongst many others as a time out to the supernatural underworld. Katabasis is moreover adverted to a trip via this world to some other aircraft in this incident the day out to the underworld (Launderville).

Overall, the contrast of these literary works can make bigger readers’ appreciation of Sumer or historic Greek culture. Homer`s epic indicates such values as marital fidelity, devotion to a homeland, and acceptance of human limitations, mainly mortality. In turn, the Epic of Gilgamesh stresses power, fame, and the center of attention of others. Both legendary heroes have proven that actually all of us have the attribute to take up challenges and research from experiences. Thus, the universal theme of each of the legendary texts offers that attributes of heroism can be attained through all humans provided they are geared up to face challenges. Still, there are some aspects in which Odysseus differs from Gilgamesh very much. The latter, for instance, is concerned with manipulations, whilst the former traditionally cares for those who encompass him.

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