the only reasonthat Gilgamesh is so successful in his ability. Ishtar makes it difficult for him when herefuses to have relations with her. Shamash, the sun god, uses Gilgamesh to carry outdeeds that may be forbidden by the other gods. The other gods are extremely upset withGilgamesh and Enkidu when Huwawa is killed. As a result, Enkidu is killed. This is theturning point for Gilgamesh in a sense. His reaction is unusual for Gilgamesh because heisn’t a thinker. He is a fighter. Now, his only objective is to discover immortality. Hebecomes obsessed with life, fearing death.When Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim, he is seeking only the way to beimmortal. He cares nothing of the hero that he once was. Gilgamesh mourns for the lossof Enkidu. His perspective changes. He truly discovers that he is mortal after he loses theplant to the serpent. All his strength and skill could not have gained immortality even if hehadn’t lost the plant to the serpent. Gilgamesh’s discovery, that he can’t stop death fromcoming, made him the true hero. Gilgamesh is devastated by the loss of immortality, but inhis journey back to Uruk with the boatman, he understands that knowledge is what makesthe man. He says at last:“Study the brickwork, study the fortification; climb the great ancient staircase tothe terrace; study how it is made; from the terrace see the planted and the fallowfields, the ponds and orchards. One league is the inner city, another league isorchards; still another the fields beyond; over there is the precinct of the temple. Three leagues and the temple precinct of Ishtar measure Uruk, the city ofGilgamesh.”At that, Gilgamesh realizes that he knows so much, and he has the greatest city in theworld. He asks himself why he is searching for more when he has the greatest thing thatexists. Education is for life, and, to Gilgamesh, the world looks different based on whathe knows. Before his jour...
