After searching for eternal life, the end for Gilgamesh came. He was not to live forever. The final chapter is similar to an obituary, praising him as a ruler. The adventures he had, the dangers overcome, and long travels did not save him from the death he feared the most.
The memorium once again explained that his destiny was to rule the people, not live forever. Destiny and fate worked together to form his life. It was the will of Enlil, the father of the gods, that he would be king. How his subjects were treated was up to Gilgamesh. His final deadly destiny was decided by the daemon Namtar, implying that he died by sickness or disease. It was a natural death, but nothing seems to indicate if he was young or old at the time of passing.
His body might have died, but the name of Gilgamesh lived long after. No other hero would take his place for several generations. It could be possible, according to the memorium, that no one will ever be greater. There is a general list of his achievements, followed by a reminder that his body is buried and never to return. He is gone. What he left behind continues.
Reviewing the story as a whole, there were many inconsistencies. He was supposed to be a great king, but the first chapter presented him as a tyrant ruler. The people complained of his mistreatments and gods worried he could not be controlled. A powerful antagonist was created to bring him under control, but turned into a great friend. This friend's death humbled Gilgamesh more than his life. Taking a dangerous journey to find out how to never die reinforced his unavoidable mortality . It didn't matter that he was more god than human. Even the most famous narrative about the flood was not about him, although his name is forever linked to the story. These examples of a confused narrative aren't harmful, but add layers of meaning. They leave room for contemplating how life rarely is predictable, and heroes have human flaws.
writing Assignment:
Think back on the whole of the story, and write an essay on any topic that examines meaning. What is the narrative trying to say? How does it say it?
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