Meaning Of Enkidu's Death In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

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Death is never the end in the ancient Greek literature. Death is always carefully placed in Greek text to bring more meaning, and add more to the story and not end a story. Enkidu's death did not simply just bring an end to The Epic of Gilgamesh, but rather open a gateway to explain the journey of Gilgamesh. The death of Hektor did not immediately just end Achilles pain and misery, but rather leads to his revelation which later ends his pains. Death serves as a catalyst for characters to discover more meaning in their lives when it occurs. “Gilgamesh, the epic, is obsessed with consciousness. It is especially obsessed with the consciousness of death, the individual awareness that one will die, the knowledge that every third thought is our …show more content…
He is angry and curses her, “As for you women, with a great curse I curse you! I will promise you a destiny to all eternity. My curse shall come on you soon and sudden…” (Sanders 90) Enkidu doesn’t think much about the death until he talks to Shamash. “When Shamash hear the words of Enkidu he called to him from heaven: Enkidu, why you cusing the women, the mistress who taught you to eat bread fit for gods and drink wine of kings? women, the mistress who taught you to eat bread fit for gods and drink wine of kings? She who put upon you a magnificent garment, did she not give you glorious Gilgamesh for your companion…” (Sanders 91) Enkidu realizes not only was he given meaning but also he received a life from the harlot. Enkidu does not reflect on this until upon his near death. The death of Enkidu also has Gilgamesh contemplate his own life. “Enkidu's death arouses a sense of mortality in Gilgamesh himself. He asks, Must I die too? Must I be as lifeless as Enkidu? How can I bear this sorrow that gnaws at my belly, this fear of death …show more content…
But in fact Patroklos was nothing less than a best friend whom he dearly loved. Patroklos death served as a reason for Achilles to return to the battlefield. Achilles used his love and passion he had for Patroklos with the fuel of rage and despair he had obtained from the loss of Patroclus to fight once again. So when his best friend Patroklos is killed. Achilles goes on to slaughter many Trojans which includes Hektor, son of King Priam. Achilles is not at all satisfied with everyone he had killed and continues to carry his emotional pain of losing Patroklos. Achilles does not find any relief until King Priam visits him and begs for his son's body. Mercifully, Achilles gives back the body to King Priam and arranges a cease fire so he can do a proper burial for Hektor. Only then is Achilles able to say, "Still, we will let all this be a thing of the past, though it hurts us, and beat down by constraint the anger that rises inside us. Now I am making an end of my anger. It does not become me unrelentingly to rage on." (Lattimore 416) The death of Hektor did not just end Achilles pain immediately, but it was Kings Priam reaction to the death of his son, which ultimately brought Achilles peace. Death in ancient Greek literature serves more than to end one's life. It is used carefully to create a crucial transition point for the lives of main characters. Death opens gates for characters rather
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