Struggling with Death in The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay

Struggling with Death in The Epic of Gilgamesh In the ?Epic of Gilgamesh,? Gilgamesh deals with an issue that nearly destroyed him. He sought after immortality so much that he put his own life on the edge. Centuries later, this quest unites our high tech, fast paced culture with the remote and different culture of Gilgamesh. Humanity has yet to find the secret of letting go of the idea of everlasting life. Many people today hold on to the topic of immortality because they find it so difficult to say goodbye to a loved one. Placing flowers on graves is a popular way to remember the deceased. Even years after the person has died, the family members and friends still go to the gravesite to reminisce. People find it†¦show more content†¦On his quest, Gilgamesh had to bargain with the gods to let him continue his journey. He had to beg them to lead him in the right direction. Many people today do the same thing. When people are sick in the hospital and they know that they do not have many days left, usually the thing that they do most is pray. They beg God to let them make it through their surgery alive. They make deals with God; for instance, they promise that they will never smoke again if they can only get rid of their lung cancer. They plead with him to let them live. Gilgamesh had the same idea. He begged the gods to show him the way to continue his journey. The concept that most clearly unites ?The Epic of Gilgamesh? and modern humanity is that immortality cannot be reached. Gilgamesh went through his entire quest, only to return with empty hands. He strove for immortality, and even almost had it, but in the end he was back where he started. He had just wasted a little more time of his ?mortal? life. Despite our advances through the centuries, humans still cannot achieve eternal life. Many teenagers, however, think that they are indestructible. They constantly take chances. Speeding, piercings, drugs, and alcohol are all things that teenagers constantly take risks with. They think, ?it would never happen to me,? when in reality no one is immortal. In the end, everyone dies, no matter what. In conclusion, Gilgamesh is just oneShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad1546 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad are two extremely different stories, The Iliad being a tale of war (specifically the Trojan War) while the Epic of Gilgamesh is a true Epic in the sense that it is a journey, all about the development of the characters. While there are many different themes throughout both books, one of the most important themes is the way that friendship develops both of the people involved and the way that it ties into the story overall. 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