Mythology is full of individuals believed to have had superhuman powers. While some of these people used their powers for the good of humanity, others abused them for their own selfish gains. Others, however, are documented as having displayed characteristics that are both beneficial to humanity and themselves, making it difficult to judge whether they are heroes or villains. One such mythologies that may seem to offer conflicting views on the characteristics of a superhuman is the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient poem from Mesopotamia considered one of the world's earliest works of literature. The poem which dates back to the 2nd or 3rd millennium BCE gives an account of Gilgamesh, a mythological king of Uruk. Gilgamesh, described as part human and part god, goes on a series of quests and even seeks to find the source of immortality after the death of his friend. Studying The Epic of Gilgamesh is the only way to determine whether Gilgamesh was a hero or not, based on an interpretation of the text. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essay The Epic of Gilgamesh is made up of 12 tablets that detail the life and times of Gilgamesh who is considered a hero and at the same time a villain. The epic was originally a Sumerian poem in cuneiform script which was later compiled in Akkadian. Due to the numerous translations the poem has undergone thus far, it cannot be said with certainty that the text that exists today is truly representative of the original events that took place all those years ago. However, some events could not have been lost in translation, notably Gilgamesh's exploits which bordered on audacity and antagonism. Perhaps the best way to determine Gilgamesh's heroism or villainy is to consider a given passage of the text. In one part of the poem, the following passage stands out and explains the reason why Gilgamesh could be considered a hero. Where is the strength? It is Gilgamesh who will venture first into the Cedar Forest, and you can follow him shouting: “Come on, move forward, continue, accept the danger!” You who fought against lions and wolves know what danger is. Where is your courage? If I fall, my name will be safe. “It was Gilgamesh who fought Huwawa!” It is Gilgamesh who will venture into the forest, cut down the cedar and win glory. My fame will be assured for all my sons. According to the passage, Gilgamesh is described as an individual who is not only courageous but also strong enough to face any challenges that come his way. Courage and strength are considered one of the two most important virtues a hero should possess because, in their absence, even the smallest challenge could be too intimidating for him. Furthermore, a person who expresses any form of cowardice cannot in any way be considered a hero because it is actually the antithesis of heroism. Second, Gilgamesh gets the title of hero because he is not afraid of danger. He is described in the passage above as being bold enough to venture into the cedar forest and face danger by fighting fierce animals such as lions and wolves. Under ordinary circumstances, this would be a very difficult thing for a mere mortal to do, but being half god and half man, Gilgamesh seems to have handled the problem with ease. Never has a hero's story been told where the hero is afraid of danger, and even when he is, he always overcomes his fear of facing an enemy, no matter how adversary he may be. This notion isreinforced in one of the lines of the passage when Gilgamesh claims that he will fight against Huwawa and establish his name as a glorious fighter among his sons. Of course, the deeds of all warriors before have been passed down from one generation to the next throughout history and given that the story of Gilgamesh is still remembered today, that would only mean that he also is a hero deserving to be recognized centuries after his exploits. Evidence of Gilgamesh's heroism can also be found. in several other passages of the text. After speaking to the Scorpion Dragon Being, Gilgamesh is said to have traveled to Mount Mashu and entered the tunnels alone. According to the text, Gilgamesh: “…felt his way blindly through the mountain tunnel, struggling for breath, all through the third league, alone and companionless during the fourth…and struggling for every breath, until the end of the fifth, in absolute darkness, nothing behind nor in front, the weight of darkness weighing on him. As mentioned earlier, heroes are supposed to be fearless individuals and this is demonstrated by Gilgamesh venturing into the dark tunnel all alone without even thinking about the dangers that might be lurking in the shadows. The fact that he chooses to go without a companion also shows that Gilgamesh was indeed a remarkable hero. An individual must overcome several challenges to be called a hero. According to the monomyth introduced by Joseph Campbell, a hero's journey is made up of 12 stages which can be summarized in three parts namely departure, initiation and return. In the case of Gilgamesh, all three of these elements are evident when he is challenged by the death of his friend Enkidu to go on a journey in search of immortality. After encountering several difficulties along the way, Gilgamesh finally finds Utnapishtim who is supposed to give him the answer to eternal life. Gilgamesh manages to retrieve the plant which Utnapishtim believes has the power to restore youth, but as he washes himself, a snake approaches him and wriggles out, forcing a dejected Gilgamesh to return to Uruk empty-handed . Despite the fact that he fails to complete his quest for immortality, Gilgamesh can still be considered a hero because he completes the three main stages of a hero's journey, as described in Campbell's monomyth. On the contrary, a person may be tempted to conclude that Gilgamesh is not a hero. The Epic of Gilgamesh might contain several instances where one would be inclined to believe that Gilgamesh was just a lucky human being who was given supernatural powers due to his birth from a goddess. According to the 12 stages of a hero's journey described by Joseph Campbell, a hero is supposed to go through all, if not most, of the stages described, but this is not as clear in the case of Gilgamesh. For example, there is no place in The Epic of Gilgamesh where the protagonist is called to adventure. In this second stage of the hero's journey, the hero is supposed to respond to an emergency call in response to a threatening situation. In the case of Gilgamesh, however, this is not obvious because rather than answering a call to adventure because of a problem facing an entire community, Gilgamesh sets out on a journey because he has fear of death. Based on this assessment, one would have no choice but to consider that Gilgamesh is not a hero but a self-centered mythological being who is actually afraid of dying. Second, Gilgamesh fails to be identified as a hero because he was more concerned with glory than anything else. As everyone knows, heroes are supposed to be selfless individuals who embark on quests that could even put their lives in danger, in order to protect the human race. Consequently, we couldexpecting a hero to undertake a dangerous mission, not to become famous but to prove that he is truly the defender of the human race. Gilgamesh, according to Larsen, fails to show this characteristic in the fight with Humbaba and in his work through Mount Mashu. Indeed, before engaging in battle against Humbaba, Gilgamesh affirms, according to the passage considered in this essay, that he would remain famous among his sons if he won the fight. This is in complete contradiction to the actions required of heroes and one would therefore be forgiven for believing that Gilgamesh is not a real hero but an assumed hero. As mentioned before, a hero is supposed to protect his people at all costs and not turn against them. on them. Gilgamesh however, is quite the opposite. At one point in the essay, questions are raised about the way Gilgamesh behaves. The poem emphasizes, according to Ferry, that: “No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all; and is this the king, the shepherd of his people? His lust leaves no virgin for his lover, neither the warrior's daughter nor the noble's wife. » The implication of this passage is that neither the sons of the inhabitants of Uruk nor the wives of men are spared from the fury and lust of Gilgamesh. . They even wonder why the gods had to give them Gilgamesh as king, because rather than protecting them and ensuring that no harm comes to them, Gilgamesh is oppressing his subjects. This may be because they know that they are weak creatures and therefore cannot do anything in retaliation. It's also important to note that to the extent that Gilgamesh seemed to depict behavior unusual for heroes, he was part human and probably not immune. to human behavior which can sometimes be erroneous. The point here is that even heroes can sometimes behave in ways that may not be considered pleasant, but that should not be used as an excuse to demonize them. Earlier in this essay, Gilgamesh is described as being a self-centered individual who seeks nothing but glory. It is also notable that Gilgamesh set out on a journey in order to solve an individual problem rather than a community one. However, an inspection of the text in the latter stages of the poem would suggest otherwise. At one point in the poem, Gilgamesh explains his plan to a boatman named Urshanabi and says: Urshanabi, this plant is a wonderful plant. Through this, a new life can be obtained. I will bring the thorny plant back to my city. I will give part of the plant to the elders there, to share among themselves, telling them it is called How the Old Man Becomes a Young Man Again. From this passage it becomes apparent that Gilgamesh is not so selfish after all since he intends to use the powers of immortality with his subjects in Uruk. Furthermore, the ultimate test is the obstacle that the heroes have been waiting to overcome throughout their adventure. Everything the hero has done comes down to this ordeal. For Gilgamesh, it was about obtaining the magic plant that restores youth. This is the moment that decides whether or not he will achieve the goal he has worked so hard for. Although he has failed to achieve immortality, the tension is eased, as he accepts the fact that living forever is not his destiny. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist is presented as an individual who has a penchant for glory and all recognition. it comes with it. Ferry notes that Gilgamesh's fame will be assured through his heroic deeds. Under normal circumstances, this might seem like a simple punch to the chest, but considering the context in which it occurs, one may need to rethink their.35.2 (2017): 178-185.