examples of gilgamesh being selfish examples of gilgamesh being selfish

With the power Gilgamesh had. Gilgamesh, once believing he was almighty, becomes a greater man and leader through, Through the anonymous mouth, we know that Gilgamesh is one-third man and two-third god. Through this companionship with Enkidu, Gilgamesh starts to realize his incapabilities and need for his friend. Always considering what is in it for you. M.A. What? Gilgamesh shows a great change from the beginning of the epic to the end, which can teach us all a lesson about life and death, and more importantly about our lives and how we should or shouldnt live our lives. Whether it's conscripting young men into his army, raping women, or having anyone he fancies executed at the drop of a hat, Gilgamesh exercises a tyranny over his people that makes them pray to the gods for relief. Once friends, Enkidu has started living differently, not like the wild beast he used to be. However, after the presence of Enkidu was made, Gilgamesh started to become the more noble and favored ruler of Uruk. Reconciled at last to his mortality, Gilgamesh resumes his proper place in the world and becomes a better king. People of Uruk suffered from tyranny and were brutally oppressed. and he was suddenly joyful, and sang aloud. How do we know he's immature? Tablet II Enkidu speaks these lines in Tablet II, as he and Gilgamesh prepare to invade the forbidden Cedar Forest and fight the demon Humbaba. He is too smart and too strong, and no one can be his equal. This is central key to all of his adventures and accomplishments (Wolff, 2009). . Eat and drink your fill.'. Gilgamesh goes from this arrogant king to a lonely grieving person with fear of, One important aspect of The Epic of Gilgamesh is that it communicates the prevailing societal values of ancient Sumeria. Yet, after Enkidu passed away, Gilgamesh becomes so distraught, he becomes obsessed and fearful of death, and seeks the secret to immortality from there on. 20% Gilgameshs impatience when asked to think about what he is doing showcases that he is not a virtuous. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Even though he is created by the Gods to be perfect, he misuses his powers and gifts for his own earthly pleasure. When they fight Humbaba, they both give moral support to each other when the other is scared. He also is two thirds god and his father was the king before him.. He is also tragically heroic after the death of his friend, Enkidu. Although his strong will is mistaken for arrogance on numerous occasions, Gilgamesh changes through the course of the novel. Gilgamesh was a selfish, mean person who tormented his people. Gilgamesh does show few examples of being a good leader. The quest is Gilgamesh's own idea, and it is rather a pointless one. That kind of thing totally annoys us at Shmoop, but we're going to assume the translator had a good reason.) This ending proves that what made Gilgamesh physically heroic was his bravery to go on a journey, even though it was driven by immortal desire. He would compel young men to participate in an unknown activity which was despised by them. Although Enkidu was weary of this idea at first, he ultimately agrees to the plan, despite the fact that he knows this act will displease Enlil, the god that put Humbaba in the forest. The most obvious being that he is a king, a man of highest level in society. Here is another sign that physical feats, especially the savagery of the deed, will not define Gilgamesh as a hero. As stated earlier, courage is another important aspect of leadership. People of Uruk suffered from tyranny and were brutally oppressed. Gilgamesh experiences a pain, which no worldly pleasure can ease. Whether they may be visual or audio, one is bound to find similarities that match their criteria of misery or happiness. For example, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, a city of culture, and personifies the highest of human virtues, such as fairness, bravery, and courage. He seems too strong for them to defend against, so they ask for help from the gods. At the beginning of the epic, Gilgameshwho is two-thirds god and one-third manis described as being the most powerful ruler on earth. When he experiences defeat, however, Gilgamesh grows as a leader, seeing the similarities between him and his subjects, their common humanity. This is not written to simply glorify King Gilgameshs life, its just a story written to entertain the audience while teaching implicit life lessons about becoming an adult and the power of the Gods. O Gilgamesh, king and conqueror of the dreadful blaze glory to him and from the brave the greater glory is Enkis (22)! Enkidu is lucky for the friendship he has gotten from Gilgamesh, but it has also costed him. The Gods And Mortals In Homer's The Odyssey 610 Words | 3 Pages In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu was an example of the character archetype, "The Sidekick," because he was a faithful and supportive companion of Gilgamesh. After reading the summary of Gilgamesh I started comparing Gilgamesh to other heroes that Ive read about. Gilgamesh's nature remains high-handed and arbitrary in this adventure and throughout the poem. On the contrary, Gilgamesh plans to use the Plant of Heartbeat and [] feed some to [an ancient] (Gilgamesh, 98). Please wait while we process your payment. So in Gilgamesh, we not only see a boy becoming a man, we see a redefinition of kingship itself. While Enkidu does display that he slightly cares for the gods input here, he is still causing another god great displeasure. However, he has some qualities that gets him into trouble, such as his overconfidence and his violence. Grant me your fruits, O grant me! Instead of feeling safe under a divine ruler, people feel threatened and pray to gods to protect them. Being conceited, and valuing your opinion and benefits over all others. He, Gilgamesh abused his power of being king when the gods made him king. It is true that Gilgameshs rejection of Ishtar was the first step in his journey to consciousness, because his feeling of vulnerability, he also lost his very close friend Enkidu, which he never experienced before, caused him to seek immorality, although in the end he remained moral., The epic developed over a period of nearly a thousand years. He shows a sense of pride, being proud of the kingdom wanting to invite him in. He is what leads Gilgamesh to ultimately learn and change his ways. Planning to share the plant with the power of youthfulness to the old men of the city illustrates the progression of Gilgamesh from a tyrant to a more thoughtful king. In the epic, his friendship and adventures undertaken with Enkidu, the death of Enkidu, and his failure to achieve immortality are key factors that led to the development of Gilgamesh 's character. Although he fought with Enkidu, once Gilgamesh tested his opponents strength, he decided to let him into his world becoming best friends. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. Gilgamesh was selfish; leaving his people to find everlasting life. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of why Gilgamesh feels this inadequacy and how this is a crucial step on his journey to consciousness. His reaction is to beat on the door and say, "If you don't let me in I'll break your door, and smash the lock" (10.22). Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. He does things for his own good and satisfaction; some might even say he isn't a leader at all. One of Gilgameshs many desires is to win fame and glory for himself and his descendants. Upon meeting, in some might say, his better half, these labels seemed to be replaced with more dignified ones, and his behaviors and intentions became more pure. Gilgamesh starts off with a powerful live and then goes through some turbulence and Joseph start out with turbulence and becomes powerful. The people of Uruk think Gilgamesh needs an adversary to give him a serious thumping, and put him in his place. Read More Gilgamesh is a tyrant because he kills men and takes advantage of women in his kingdom. Gilgamesh completed a long and dangerous journey into the afterlife, he wished to know the secret to life in order to gain fame, and Gilgamesh also has the physical qualities of a hero, considering he was made perfect by the Gods. (one code per order). Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. In the beginning of the epic, Gilgamesh is portrayed as a man who is selfish; someone will stop at nothing to satisfy his desires, however irrational his desires are. Want 100 or more? However, Gilgamesh is often unstable. He was also known and appreciated for building many walls and temples around his city, which no man who followed ever matched. Gilgameshs impatience when asked to think about what he is doing showcases that he is not a virtuous. For example, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, a city of culture, and personifies the highest of human virtues, such as fairness, bravery, and courage. What he finds instead is the wisdom to strike harmony with his divine and mortal attributes. Many believe that Gilgamesh exhibits many good characteristics but lacks generosity. And Gilgamesh is just the man for the job. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. For example, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, a city of culture, and personifies the highest of human virtues, such as fairness, bravery, and courage. Gilgamesh went abroad in the world, but he met with none who could withstand his arms till be came to Uruk. What are the similarities and differences between Enkidu and Gilgamesh in The Epic of Gilgamesh? What made Gilgamesh, from The Epic of Gilgamesh, such an epic hero. The epic narrates the legendary deeds of the main character Gilgamesh. Regardless, the two continue to celebrate, immaturely throwing their braggadocio in the gods faces. Published by an anonymous author, people assume that Mulan lived in the Northern Wei (386- 534) in the Northern Dynasties Period (386- 581) C.E. The people of Uruk began hailing Enkidu as their hero. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! However, not everyone sees the ruler as being great. for a group? An example of him being selfish is when the narrator says, "He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk, like a wild bull he makes himself mighty, head raised" This quote shows that Gilgamesh can be very arrogant. The people of Uruk were frightened. Anyway, in these dreams, Gilgamesh passionately embraces, first, a giant meteorite, and, then, a giant axe. Another event that changes Gilgamesh's character is the death of Enkidu. At the end five leagues, thick was the darkness and no light, nothing Gilgamesh could see ahead or behind him. I could've killed myself!" Gilgamesh is very strong. Gilgamesh is very strong. The two heroes quickly become inseparable friends and embark on an epic quest. After meeting Enkidu he seems less arrogant to the people of Uruk and becomes their hero. He is the fiercest of warriors and the most ambitious of builders. He is rejected from society because he is an ogre. The men of Uruk gossip and did not trust Gilgamesh. In a way Gilgamesh cannot help but to be the selfish king that he is because, he came into this personality due to his upbringing and surroundings and his overall being. Gilgamesh had a lot of powers, but he was not wise as he was not content with what he had, and attempted to live forever. In the epic Gilgamesh, the characters traits of both Gilgamesh and Enkidu help to build a lasting friendship through their differences. But the men of Uruk muttered in their houses, Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his amusement, his arrogance has no bounds by day or night. As Gilgamesh first reached Uruk. This shows that Gilgamesh is no longer selfish and only cares about himself, but also that he learns to care . Another example of this can be seen before the fight against the giant Humbaba when he says "when two go together each will protect himself and shield his companion, and if they fall they leave an enduring name" (Gilgamesh, p. 20). In sharp contrast, Enkidu was raised in the wild and is foreign to civilization. She took it upon herself to disguise herself as a man, and take her father's position in the army due to his advancement of age and fragility. The friendship is beneficial to both Gilgamesh and Enkidu. (I). In this story, Gilgamesh displays heroic actions by slaying the Bull of Heaven, which was created to destroy him. Eesh, Gilgamesh, a simple "Excuse me, do you happen to know where I might find Utanapishtim?" When Enkidu advises against this perilous quest, Gilgamesh simply replies with, Where is your courage?/If I should fall, my fame will be secure. The two are scolded by Enlil, who is mortified that Humbaba has been killed and in the manner that it happened. Joseph, a biblical man with great power and authority sold from the land of Canaan to the land of Egypt. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, what does Gilgamesh gain from his epic quest? Later in his life, Gilgamesh is able to kill the Bull of Heaven that send against him by Ishtar (lovemaking goddess). Gilgamesh is an epic that has been passed down for thousands of years. Enlil raged at them. Enkidu was made of clay and Arurus saliva, and had nearly equal power as Gilgamesh. The story of Mulan is originally a Ballad. read full [Essay Sample] for free . Latest answer posted September 02, 2020 at 7:39:45 PM, Latest answer posted September 28, 2018 at 3:55:07 PM. Even with his selfish deeds, the towns people think of him as their hero. Be you my husband and I your wife! Gilgamesh impresses his people with his unusual abilities and strengthens by predicting the coming flood and building a magnificent wall around Uruk. said: 'Enkidu, this is the food and drink. When he also first became king, he was full of lust. Selfish people are uncaring and neglectful of other people's needs. Anyway, that is the moment that starts to set Gilgamesh on a good path. He helps destroy Humbaba and then he kills the Bull of Heaven. At the end we see someone who has held, and lost, the secret to immortality, but in return, gains a new perspective towards living life., Perlin, John. Maybe we shouldn't give Gilgamesh such a hard time for being an insufferable bully; he seems to have come by it honestly. His triumphs fostered arrogance. Enkidu balances out Gilgamesh and acts as a foil in the epic. They suggest that although they like how Gilgamesh is heroic and godly, they would like someone more democratic to be their ruler. Because Gilgamesh made his journey to the ends of the earth, returning "exhausted but whole," he became a king his people loved. This paper is about the similarities found in Mulan that relate to and are applicable to Gilgamesh. Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu kiss and hug each other frequently. He had many extraordinary qualities, and heroic characteristics. Purchasing Gilgamesh is eager to show off his kingdom of Uruk to Ur-shanabi, also complementing it. Discovering the Plant of Eternal Life It is obvious that Gilgamesh . Enkidu is caring and thoughtful and equal to Gilgamesh in strength. In each case, Gilgamesh's mother, Ninsun, interprets the dream as foretelling that Gilgamesh will get a friend, whom he will "embrace as a wife." Survey its foundations, examine the brickwork A square mile is city, a square mile date-grove, a square mile is clay-pit, half a square mile the temple of Ishtar: three square miles and a half is Uruks expanse. (George, 99). This forms a type of two-way bond between . No son is left with his fatherK His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warriors daughter nor the wife of the noble. He also has to face great evils. The way he sees it, we all die anyway, so you might as well live fast, die young, and be crazy famous: "Should I fall, I will have established my fame" (2.236). Read More Survey its foundations, examine the brickwork A square mile is city, a square mile date-grove, a square mile is clay-pit, half a square mile the temple of Ishtar: three square miles and a half is Uruks expanse. (George, 99). After Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh to a contest of strength, they became best friends. For this reason that first section is sometimes designated as a prologue by translators because we are supposed to understand it as the final analysis on Gilgamesh's life: he turned out to be a great king. Unfortunately, Enkidu dies because the goddesses want to punish him owing to the fact that he and Gilgamesh killed the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh seems to take whatever he wants. Published works of art are always found to have similarities with other published pieces. But Gilgamesh is never seen sleeping with a woman after conflict, and he even rejected Ishtar, the principal goddess of Uruk. Of course Enkidu ends up being a good addition to Gilgamesh 's life. He was too arrogant and oppressive. He is arrogant, and walks around looking down on people. So, he pulls it together and becomes a wise and admired ruler. Gilgamesh is a tyrant at the beginning of The Epic of Gilgamesh in that he works his citizens to death, forcibly conscripts young men into his army, and rapes women. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Gilgamesh is a selfish, rude, and self-centered person at the beginning of the epic. Let them contend together and leave Uruk in quiet. Let me harness you chariot of lapis and gold, its wheel shall be gold and its horns shall be amber. The movie "Shrek" is great example of the saviour archetype. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Enlil raged at them. He was their sovereign but never their shepherd. There are many factors in which Gilgamesh is considered an epic hero. Yet, after Enkidu passed away, Gilgamesh becomes so distraught, he becomes obsessed and fearful of death, and seeks the secret to immortality from there on. Gilgamesh is a terrific example of how the human needs can surpass the desires and wishes of other humans, and how the humans can attack and destroy the nature for its own satisfaction and fulfillment. The citizens of Uruk resent Gilgamesh's arrogance and tyrannical behavior to the point that they petition the goddess Anu for help. Having this into consideration, Enkidu owes life to Gilgamesh, or at least shall be thankful to Gilgamesh for his own existing. Gilgamesh held no esteem whatsoever for life itself because he had never tasted the bitterness of a friend or relatives death. After losing the plant of eternal life, Gilgamesh returns to his kingdom of Uruk. Gilgamesh was in search for the secret of eternal life in which he believed Utnapishtim held. It was Gilgamesh who fought against Huwawa! (17). Gilgamesh is so strong willed he seems arrogant, he, In the beginning Gilgamesh is said to be two-thirds god and one-third man. At the beginning of his journey, he continues to act like his jerky pre-Enkidu self. New York: W.W. Norton, 1989. (Even if it might not actually work.) He did this for nothing in return, where we can notice that he already had a plan for Enkidu. No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all; and is this the king, the shepherd of his people? This very moment is when Gilgamesh sets on a voyage for immortality. Throughout the Epic of Gilgamesh, the characters are faced with obstacles that symbolize fear and struggle in the reader's life., The Epic of Gilgamesh is a third person journey about a mans change from bad to good because of a character named Enkidu. Reflecting on his rule, he recalls that, He demanded from an old birthright/the privilege of sleeping with their brides (15). He tells Urshanabi, "Go up, Urshanabi, onto the wall of Uruk and walk around. . According to Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP in Health Line, if you're upset, an emotionally . There, Gilgamesh looks over his empire, and is astonished at what he sees. Gilgameshs behavior is not one of a. However, Gilgamesh is often unstable. Gilgamesh begins to make offerings to Shamash for help. After his death he mourns him and wanders throughout the desert for the rest of this life. Read about another ancient epic character whose excesses cause strife, Achilles from Homers Iliad. 2. Also, his main purpose of mentioning Shamash was probably driven by his need to convince Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba. After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh is forced to think about about his death, so he decided he need something that will help him to be immortal, I fear the death, and now roam the wilderness, Gilgamesh said. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Free trial is available to new customers only. You are also the handsomest, strongest, and most powerful man in the world (and, don't forget you're also 2/3rds god). In sharp contrast, Enkidu was raised in the wild and is foreign to civilization. Survey the foundations, examine the brickwork [](Gilgamesh, 99). To add to their treachery, they mock the gods by laying Humbabas head before Enlil, the god who created Humbaba. (page 100, ln 1-50) To comply with his desires and restlessness, Gilgamesh sets off with Enkidu to slay the beast Humbaba hoping to gain fame. As a result, Gilgamesh became afraid of his death and started to seek immortality, which is how the call to adventure has. In comparison, its always observed on how different scholars find the similarity of especially marital settings, characters, and as well as the wanderings of the mythological world. Examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly" (11.314-315). The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. To be sure, it is the gods' intention that Gilgamesh will still be a king, and a very powerful one at that, but with the crucial difference that he'll be a wise, benevolent king, someone who will inspire respect among his subjects rather than fear and terror. It must be noted that Gilgamesh undergoes a major transformation after the death of Enkidu. Abused by Gilgamesh, the gods creates his second self, an uncultured wild man, Enkidu. Shamash reminds him of the good that has come from his introduction to, Before Enkidu, Gilgamesh was seen has only a king, he was seen as the man who knew everything. He faces the battle with Hambaba, the death of his friend, he passes through the mountain, When it comes to the topic of Gilgamesh rejection towards Ishtar, most people will readily agree that his rejection was due to his feelings of inadequacy towards Ishtar. Through these acts of rebellion toward the gods, tricking of the gods, and the throwing of the Bull of Heavens leg at. He says that we'll all die, but he doesn't realize what that actually means until after Enkidu does die. Enkidu's friendship calms and focuses him. The massacre of the suitors is similar to Gilgameshs behavior earlier on as king of Uruk, harsh and unforgiving. Some manage to somehow cheat death and in their adulthood wonder "what the heck was I thinking? To add to their treachery, they mock the gods by laying Humbabas head before Enlil, the god who created Humbaba. However, Enkidu chose friendship over becoming the perfect leader. In the beggining of the story, Enkidu was made by the goddess Arura in order to punish Gilgamesh with the same wild and stormy heart as Gilgamesh has. Through his many trials and tribulations, Gilgamesh proves that he has great physical strength. See, killing things is a really good skill if you're the head of a band of wandering nomads. These, By the end of the epic, Gilgamesh has hardly changed from the ravenous man he was in the beginning of the poem. He is too smart and too strong, and no one can be his equal. Instead of being a benevolent king and shepherd to his people, Gilgamesh rules Uruk as a tyrant. According to Gilgamesh, the human condition is defined by our flaws. Yet until Enkidu, his near equal, arrives to serve as a counterweight to Gilgameshs restless energies, he exhausts his subjects with ceaseless battle, forced labor, and arbitrary exercises of power. When he shows up at Siduri's tavern looking like a hot mess, she bolts the door, fearing for her life. It was discovered in the city of Ninevah amidst the ruins of the great royal library of Assurbanipal, the last great king of the Assyrian empire. By the end of both king's quests, they change between being thoughtful to ruthless. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of why Gilgamesh feels this inadequacy and how this is a crucial step on his journey to consciousness. Reflecting on his rule, he recalls that, He demanded from an old birthright/the privilege of sleeping with their brides (15). You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Humbaba nodded his head and shook it, menacing Gilgamesh; and on him he fastened his eye, the eye of death. After Enkidu comes, Gilgamesh calms down. Gilgamesh is the handsomest, strongest, and most powerful man in the world. From henceforth may the fire be on your faces (22). Not caring about others, or being unable to empathize. After walking through the forest and finding Humbaba, the duo begins to use their weapons to lash out at the forest beast. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. As the king of Uruk, he already has what will secure his own fame and glory: a grand city that it is up to him to lead, to rule, to improve, to protect. Here's where Enkidu comes in. He, looked at the walls, awed at the heights his people had achieved (92). For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The other, a man named Gilgamesh, a strong and handsome man from an epic story of the Ancient Babylonian time. In the early pages of the epic, Gilgameshs representation was dominated by godly attributes (undefeated, courageous, terrifying, beautifulK) which directs us to believe that he was probably immortal., Gilgamesh goes on this heroic journey in hope to bring his dear friend Enkidu back to life. In sharp contrast, Enkidu was raised in the wild and is foreign to civilization. When the epic opens, Gilgamesh is an arrogant and strong man. The Ninevite version of the epic begins with a prologue in praise of Gilgamesh, part divine and part human, the great builder and warrior, knower of all things on land and sea. SparkNotes PLUS One of the earliest stories of Gilgamesh is developed from Sumerian texts, one of the most influential and well-known poems (Michelakis & Pantelis 2007). Mulan is a girl that grew up in Ancient China. When at first he was a selfish and immature god, he eventually becomes a better person which leads to him being a better ruler. This displays Gilgameshs impatience because he will not listen when his friend wants him to slow down and think about his choices. He says, "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. Even though he was a ruler not all people of uruk were happy about his action as he was cruel among women. At the beginning of The Epic of Gilgamesh, prior to the death of his friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh is portrayed as a tyrant in a number of ways. Many scholars see Gilgamesh as similar to both Odysseus and Achilles (Gresseth 5). Subscribe now. Gilgamesh and Enkidu ruthlessly triumph over Humbaba and in their celebration. Odysseus mercilessness to his townsfolk is a stark change from his dedication to his crew members earlier. Traits of Selfish People: Manipulating situations to your advantage. When Gilgamesh decides that he wants to fight Humbaba, he refuses to listen to Enkidus worries and protests, You [Enkidu] speak unworthilyI must set my hand to cutting a cedar tree,/I must establish eternal flame (Putchner et al 111). In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the anonymous author uses symbols, such as Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, to represent the fear and struggle that the characters experience in the story. The other side of Gilgamesh begins to surface from this event, instead of a fearless and oppressive ruler that he was describe as, we can see Gilgamesh in fear trying to seeks for guidance. Gilgamesh, human son of the Goddess Ninsun and King Lugalbanda, was named the 5th king of Uruk in Mesopotamia around 2700 BCE, and reined for 126 years. During combat, Humbaba begins to plead for his life. Or, when Siduri tells him to find Urshanabi, the Ferryman, and ride his taxi over to see Utanapishtim, Gilgamesh is so annoyed that Urshanabi is not standing there ready to set sail, that Gilgamesh destroys the "stone things," only to find out later that Urshanabi needed those "stone things" to make the passage to Utanapishtim's house. The text is still not completely understood today., However, Gilgamesh received the response that he was young, foolish, and most definitely not invincible. Gilgamesh is a tyrant because he kills men and takes advantage of women in his kingdom. In a way Gilgamesh cannot help but to be the selfish king that he is because, he came into this personality due to his upbringing and surroundings and his overall being. Gilgamesh had the quest where he was wanted to kill Humbaba and gain the eternal fame .This essay will discuss on how Gilgameshs quest shift from wanting the eternal fame to search for immortality., The nature of heroism is defined as the attributes or qualities of a hero and his or her courageous actions. His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior's daughter nor the wife of the noble. The events in the characters life do indeed cover a broad range of heroic epic encounters; however it is the character and psychological or emotional, In the epic we have seen that Gilgamesh was strong , powerful and important among his people .