Question.570 - Applying one or more of the characteristics of a hero listed in this week’s lecture, do you think Gilgamesh qualifies as a hero? Use quotations from Gilgamesh to support your assertion.
Answer Below:
According to Peter Stillman, a hero should not only inherit the great qualities but also he should be similar to ordinary man so that people can relate themselves and try to learn from the heroes. When there a hero overcomes his challenges and rectifies the flaws in his life, the audiences will get inspiration and motivation to follow the footsteps of that particular hero. Gilgamesh is one such heroic character who has influenced many people through his heroic qualities of courage, bravery, grit and sacrifice. Gilgamesh is “first in a long line of western heroes who straddle the boundary between human and divine”, one of the strongest and oldest human kings who has ruled Uruk. A hero is the one who defeats every wrong doer and transform them to a virtual figure. Gilgamesh has done the same when both Gilgamesh and Enkindu were rivals but gradually Gilgamesh tries to become close to him and eventually them become friends and this shows the importance of friendship or “male bonding.” Secondly, in one of the expeditions, he encounters a monster named Humbaba and both Gilgamesh and Enkindu confront this monster and defeat themselves. But unfortunately he loses his companion, Enkindu and from that time he seeks the quest to know about immortality. Moreover, he never cared about his own life rather he was ready to sacrifice his life in order to save other’s life. No matter the heroic traits are important for a hero but at the same time Gilgamesh was also having certain flaws like prideful and arrogant but with the mixture of flaws and qualities made him an epic hero.More Articles From Literature
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