e 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 one example that shows how the quest for immortality has helped to unite all humanity. Although some people do not even believe in immortality, everyone struggles with the concept. Even something as simple as decorating the grave of a loved one is holding on to the idea that the person is still there. They believe in some minute way that the person can see them, can see the flowers, and can hear their prayers. Despite the cultural and time differences, reading “The Epic of Gilgamesh” reminds us that immortality is still central to humankind....
