Critique of Gilgamesh as a King in The Epic of Gilgamesh...

A Critique of Gilgamesh as a King in The Epic of Gilgamesh nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There are some characteristics that most great kings have. All of the great kings did not have all of these characteristics, but they had some of them. Gilgamesh did not have many of these traits. Although he was a powerful king, he was not a great king. He had some good traits, such as being a leader, and fighting evil powers. He tormented his people, oppressed them them, exhausted them in daily life and in combat, and he gave himself the right to sleep with any unmarried woman. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gilgamesh uses his strength to get anything he wants. He especially uses his power to get women. He â€Å"demands to be first with the bride, the†¦show more content†¦In modern times, he would be arrested and maybe jailed for raping all those women. He uses his strength to do this, until Enkidu tries to stop him from entering the newlywed bride’s home. Enkidu becomes a great friend to Gilgamesh. He lets him know of his destiny to become a hero and famous. He informs him that his destiny is to kill Humbaba, the â€Å"watchman of the forest† who frightens all who explore the depths of the forest.(71) Gilgamesh listens to Enkidu and goes to kill Humbaba. He says, â€Å"I will go first although I am your lord.†(71) This is a good trait of Gilgamesh being a king because he is showing leadership skills and his ability to conquer his fears. Gilgamesh was selfish; leaving his people to find everlasting life. He did not find it, but he d id come across the plant that Utnapishtim told him about. Utnapishtim said, â€Å"There is a plant that grows under the water, it has a prickle like a thorn, like a rose; it will wound your hands, but if you succeed in taking it, then your hands will hold that which restores his lost youth to a man.†(116) Gilgamesh was strong enough to take a piece of the plant, but a serpent stole it from him, so he went back to having nothing. He always wanted to help himself rather than help his people, which is what a king’s job is. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Overall, Gilgamesh is a horrible king. His biggest problem is his selfishness. He uses his godly position to obtain whatever he wants. HisShow MoreRelatedA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh Essay examples1640 Words   |  7 PagesA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh There are many differences and critical comparisons that can be drawn between the epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh. Both are historical poems which shape their respected culture and both have major social, cultural, and political impacts on the development of western civilization literature and writing. Before any analysis is made, it is vital that some kind of a foundation be established so that a further, in-depth exploration of the complex natureRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1284 Words   |  6 PagesPerhaps 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)Read MoreThe Gilgamesh Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh2459 Words   |  10 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh consist of narratives in tablets that effectively forwards the ideology of kingship in Mesopotamia through a compilation of themes. Gilgamesh outward appearance was magnificent, but inwardly he was a relentless tyrannical king. The epic makes it clear that he was beautiful, strong, and wise collectively these facts intertwine with him being one-third god and two-third human. Oddly, Gilgamesh never effectively utilized his assets for the betterment of his people; rather he