Introduction to Epic Hero in Gilgamesh
Epic hero in Gilgamesh is a tricky question due to having various incredible characters. There are extraordinary mortals who accomplish great and incredible feats in stories or epics they are set in. They are usually the central figures of myths, legends, or epic poems and generally, they are larger-than-life figures. As epics are usually written and told in flashbacks wherein the narrator takes the stories and starts from the middle and works towards the events happening at the end. The heroes given in epics have been given extra grandeur. They are described through extended similes, wider descriptions, and grand language to enhance specific features of their characters to equal them to their great actions. This is done by incorporating some natural or supernatural occurrences which they have to overcome. Epic heroes are usually people who have divine touch but still have either human faults or some human ancestry. As epic means a majestic poetic piece, the heroes of these stories must wage struggles beyond the power of human beings and inspire favor of the gods or other dues ex machina. The actions of differnet heroes, as far as the epic hero in Gilgamesh is concerned, are grand. However, they are different regarding the role required of the hero at the time when they were present and the culture they belonged to.
Epic Hero in Gilgamesh: Case of Gilgamesh
In most epics, the heroes are in some part divine. Starting about the epic hero in Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh himself seems a hero. He was born to the goddess Ninsun while being blessed with courage and beauty by Addad and Shamash. He was a human being otherwise. Enkidu, who became his friend after he reached the city, was also of divine birth but lesser in status to him since he was created from clay. He was created to lower Gilgamesh’s arrogance. His role as a hero ends after his death, though it does serve a purpose for Gilgamesh. He undertakes an epic journey to search for the meaning of life. Unlike Enkidu, Gilgamesh possesses all qualities of a hero and eventually makes his nation realize that they cannot escape death which is something inevitable. Odysseus, unlike Gilgamesh, has an earthly birth. His parents Anticlea and Laertes are humans. He is brave and very sharp, using his wit to outwit his enemies like the Cyclops. Therefore, he seems a true epic hero in Gilgamesh.
Differences Between Epic Heroes
On the other hand, Aeneas is the son of Aphrodite, who is also a goddess but from a man. He is very brave and virtuous, something mentioned in the poem The Aeneid on numerous occasions. His virtue is something that Virgil appreciates and wants to drill into his soldiers. Both Aeneas and Gilgamesh, the epic hero in Gilgamesh, are blessed with sacred beauty which aids them during their quests for meanings of life and death. However, Odysseus accomplishes the same feats with his skill with words, intellectual dexterity, and an agile body. He is fast both on his feet as well as his mind, perhaps more so than the other heroes, leading him to return home despite many temptations or obstacles obstructing his path. It is also not correct that other heroes do not possess great intelligence, they do but not to the point where he stands in his situation. Gilgamesh demonstrates it, as he finds Utnapishtim that he is knowledgeable and finds a way to have an access to the immortality plant. In the case of Aeneas case, he is intelligent but unlike Gilgamesh and Odysseus’s there is direct interference from both Jupiter and his mother time and again which saves him on several occasions. Turnus, unlike the previous three, does not have the assistance of the gods and is very arrogant and proud. Aeneas constantly emphasizes his virtue, exclaiming repeatedly to the gods and showing his skills, “Is this the prize for virtue? Is this how you restore our rule?” Turnus, on the other hand, shows no such restraint. He continuously tries to conspire against Aeneas knowing the other is better than him and has an upper hand on him. Virgil also displays virtue and is proud of it. He emphasizes the virtue Aeneas possesses, urging the Roman soldiers to do the same. Turnus has no such virtue. That is why Juno aids him for a while until Jupiter intervenes.
Epic Hero in Gilgamesh and Tribal Loyalties
One thing they all share is the assistance of gods they receive whenever the going gets too tough and when they need help, or cannot deal with hardships anymore. The major difference between all of them lies not in how they are born, or to whom but rather society and culture they belong to and their role in those societies. Gilgamesh has to unite his tribe. When he faces defeat from Enkidu, his best friend and someone he deeply cherishes, he sets out to achieve immortality to break the bondage of death. Odysseus is to lay down the foundations of a nation worthy of greatness when he reaches home and is to save his household and his city; he faces many temptations and attractions on his way back home. His, being an age of mental agility and knowledge, which took precedence over possessing only courage as was shown by the way, he eloquently uses words in a few of his predicaments to get out of a tough spot. Virgil wanted virtue in the men of his empire and Aeneas displays both restraint and virtue which could be glorified, followed and showed how the foundations for a successful empire are laid down. Turnus, unlike him, is an opportunist, impulsive and impatient. He will not be known as a hero despite reaching the stature of one. It is because it was not in his destiny to become a hero because Aeneas was chosen to lay down the foundations of the great nation. The differences between these heroes developed because of their different cultures, the gods from whom they ultimately received assistance, or did not receive favors, and their own roles in the situations they were placed in.
Conclusion
To sum it up, epic heroes are all grand figures. They either enjoy divine births, or are humans that accomplish great feats possessing extraordinary skills. They accomplish awe-inspiring and great things. They also have or earn the favor of the gods who aid them throughout their journeys and help them cross hurdles that they just cannot do on their own. They have all done much for the countries, empires, or cities they belong to. Their differences in how they acted or what they achieved lie in the cultures they belong to, the time they were born in, the nations they came from, and what was expected from them.
Bibliography
- Gransden, Karl Watts, and Stephen John Harrison. Virgil: The Aeneid. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
- Homer, Homer. The Odyssey. Xist Publishing, 2015.
- Kovacs, Maureen Gallery. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Stanford University Press, 1989.
Relevant Questions
- What are the key differences between Gilgamesh and other epic heroes in terms of their character traits and development throughout their respective narratives?
- How does Gilgamesh’s journey and transformation differ from that of traditional epic heroes, and what unique challenges does he face that set him apart from other legendary figures?
- In what ways does the role of friendship and companionship in Gilgamesh’s story differentiate him from other epic heroes, and how do these differences contribute to his characterization as an epic hero with distinct qualities and values?
