The Epic Of Gilgamesh Passage Analysis

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Upon declaring the challenge of killing Humbaba, the beast-like God of the Forest, Gilgamesh displays an obsession with gaining immortal status. Gilgamesh’s conquest for Humbaba becomes his conquest of fame and establishing an immortal name. In the beginning of Tablet IV in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh and Enkidu set camp and perform a ritual to receive a dream. They act to appeal to the gods for blessings and safe travels in their journey. However, this contradicts why Gilgamesh fights for fame. How can one attain the immortal status of a god while remaining subordinate to a higher being or beings? This passage displays Gilgamesh’s human weakness and subjection to a higher power, through his interaction between Shamash and Ninurta as well as Enkidu.
The passage begins with Enkidu and Gilgamesh performing a spiritual ritual, commencing the sacrifice while “Facing the sun,” (IV-5) which introduces the god Shamash, whose physical and symbolic form is personified by the sun. The word choice of “facing” illustrates the direct and almost conversational positioning of the ritual. In addition, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are travelers that need the blessing of Shamash, the patron god of travelers. Gilgamesh later “[climbs] to the top of the mountain,” (IV-8) which signals a change in …show more content…
Enkidu is the one to make the house itself, “he fixed [the] door,” “he made [Gilgamesh] lie down” in the “circle he had drawn” (IV-11, 12). When Gilgamesh lays upon this make shift temple structure Enkidu created, he “[rests] his chin on his knees” (IV-14) almost in a fetal position, a very vulnerable and child-like position, juxtaposing the outward aggression and ambition Gilgamesh depicts in his actions and aspirations. The writing in the passage portrays Gilgamesh as weak, looking towards the gods for answers and Enkidu for
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